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SMART CLARK GIGA CITY – Meralco is not resting on its laurels.
The work is not yet done for the Bolts, who plan to increase their level of talent, especially after a victory before making a great appearance in the final of the PBA Philippine Cup.
Without going into details, coach Norman Black hinted at the possibility of improving the team’s roster during the offseason in hopes of taking the Bolts to the next level where the franchise left in the bubble tournament.
The Bolts were kicked out of the race for a spot in the final after losing to Barangay Geneva in their sudden death game over the weekend, 83-80.
“Let’s face it, Geneva is a pretty strong team. I don’t have Japeth Aguilar running down the middle, catching the ball in the air and blocking shots, ”Black said after Meralco concluded his campaign this season.
“I have to try to improve my level of talent to be able to reach them, or at least play with them,” he added. “That is really the key. We have to improve the talent level of the team and we will do it in the off-season.
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Black mentioned about the upcoming rookie draft, which Black sees as a deep one when it comes to talent level after the league relaxed some of the prerequisites for incoming freshmen due to the current pandemic.
Meralco will choose no. 9 in the draft minutes.
“I think we will definitely get a good one. Although we could have the ninth pick in the draft, I think we will still have a very good player. No one in particular because when you’re the ninth pick you have no idea, “Black said.
Looking back, the Bolts began making moves late last year by acquiring the services of big man Raymond Almazan and later, gunner Allein Maliksi.
Before bubble season, the franchise selected Aaron Black from the rookie draft and then veteran Noy Baclao from the free agent roster.
Baclao was unable to join the team on the season restart, but he put together a roster that Black deemed the strongest lineup of all the Filipinos he had with Meralco.
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The Bolts competed, finishing as the fifth-seeded team at the end of the eliminations. They later dethroned five-time champion San Miguel Beer in the quarterfinals, then pushed the seeded Kings to the limit in the semifinals.
Black said the race was a good experience for Meralco to keep going.
“Experience is the best teacher. You can’t run until you walk. And we walked in this conference and hopefully we can run a little faster in the next conference,” said the 63-year-old coach.
“We have never been in the semi-finals, much less the finals of an All-Filipino,” Black said, also noting that it was the first time in five or six years that the Bolts reached the Philippine Cup playoffs.
But again, it’s about improving the Meralco roster that should take the team to the next level, according to Black.
“It’s not just about the experience, it’s about trying to improve the team so that you can take the next step,” he said.
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