MANILA, Philippines — Pumilas si Meralco head coach Norman Black sa isa sa mga ibinahaging istorya ni American coach Ron Jacobs sa kanilang 83-74 panalo sa nagdedepensang Barangay Ginebra sa PBA Governors’ Cup Finals noong Linggo.
Ibinasura ng Bolts ang 13-point lead ng Gin Kings sa Game Three para agawin ang 2-1 bentahe sa kanilang best-of-seven championship series.
“I remember I told them a story about how the great Ron Jacobs telling me that if you shoot a very high percentage in the first half and you’re only up a few points, it’s not very good because the other team certainly has a chance to come back,” ani Black sa kanyang mga players.
Pagdating sa second half ay hinigpitan ng tropa ni Black ang kanilang depensa para talunin ang Ginebra ni two-time PBA Grand Slam champion mentor Tim Cone.
“It was my way of trying to motivate my players to understand that we’re still in the game, we still have a chance to come back. We have to play a little bit better defense and play better offense which we did in the second half,” dagdag nito.
Winalis ng Gin Kings ang kanilang tatlong title series ng Bolts sa PBA Governors’ Cup.
At ngayon ay dalawang panalo na lamang ang kailangang makuha ng Meralco para resbakan ang Ginebra at makamit ang inaasam na kauna-unahang PBA crown.
Sina import Tony Bishop at Chris Newsome ang inaasahan ni Black na magdadala sa Bolts sa kampeonato.
Bukas didribol ang Game Four sa Smart Araneta Coliseum.