MANILA, Philippines - Meralco, the powerhouse team known as the Reddy Kilowatts in the 70s, made a dramatic entrance in the basketball scene as it upended Barangay Ginebra, 73-72, in an electrifying performance kicking off the 2010-2011 PBA Philippine Cup last night at the Araneta Coliseum.
Macmac Cardona, a prized trade recruit from Talk n Text, came through with a tough turnaround shot off two defenders with 32 seconds left then the Bolts made the necessary defensive stops as they overcame the Kings.
“It was so nice for Meralco to win its first game,” said coach Ryan Gregorio, a three-time champion bench tactician with his former team B-MEG Derby Ace.
“I just pretty much challenged them to make the necessary stops in the end. In as much as we missed crucial free throws, we survived on our defense efforts,” Gregorio also said.
The Bolts, a new team under the Pangilinan Group, pulled off a come-from-behind win as they held the Kings to two points in the last 4:35 of play.
Gregorio and his troops surged ahead to stay after Cardona scored off Ronald Tubid and Eric Menk on a tricky move, making it 73-72 with time down to 32 seconds.
The Kings had a chance to regain the lead but JC Intal and Willie Miller fumbled two crucial possessions in the closing seconds.
“Before the game, we’re really confident having a mindset to make good stops can put us in good stead even as we go up against a very talented team,” said Gregorio.
“I have to caution everyone though that one win doesn’t make a conference,” Gregorio added.
Nelbert Omolon, a holdover from the old Sta. Lucia team, got away with 14 points and the same number of rebounds in his first game in Meralco’s orange jersey.
Cardona added 12 points, six rebounds and four assists against six turnovers.
Five Ginebra players put in double-digit outputs but the Kings sagged altogether at the finish, squandering a 70-65 advantage.
Willie Miller pumped in a 15-footer coming off the bench for Ginebra’s lone basket in the last four minutes of the game.
Meralco came out strong, taking the opening quarter at 22-18 with Marlou Aquino leading their charge with a 3-of-3 field-goal shooting.