BEATEN four times in the finals before, the light at the end of the tunnel seemed unreachable for Meralco, its chances of finally savoring victory likened to houses regularly affected by power outage.
Consider these: There was no energy. The pro league’s perennial contenders were lording it over. The Bolts’ campaign in the season-ending tilt even got off on the wrong foot and they seemed like linemen about to fall hard on the ground.
No one believed Meralco could get the job done–except for the Bolts’ inner circle, most importantly coach Luigi Trillo, active consultant Nenad Vucinic and the team’s brain thrust.
Faith indeed moves mountains–in this case, Meralco’s unshaken belief and sheer hard work carried the Bolts to an improbable storybook finale.
“A lot of times we were at 1-3, 2-5 (in the standings). We were down. The coaching staff also (still) helping each other out,” Trillo said. “We were challenging the guys, and there was character all around. Credit to the players for rising because it takes a lot to get out of that hole.
“For coach Nenad and us, we’re looking at not just about one game or two games. Looking at him and what he does, he builds the program. He really puts pressure on the guys, because he demands it,” he added.
Trillo spoke after his charges completed a stunning PBA Philippine Cup title triumph at the expense of the powerhouse San Miguel Beermen, capped by a scintillating 80-78 victory in Game 6 last Sunday night before a wild and roaring crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Now a two-time champion tactician after winning his first with the defunct Alaska ballclub 11 years ago, Trillo, overcame with bittersweet emotions as the Manny V. Pangilinan-owned franchise finally got over the hump since joining the PBA in 2010, could not have asked for a better ending.
“Surreal for us. We’ve been together. We’ve been working closely together. Just proud of the ways these guys battle through it,” Trillo said. “I’m proud of the guys as they stepped up. We went through adversity when the playoffs came, and then we faced Ginebra and San Miguel.
“For some guys, we’re happy for them like Cliff Hodge, CB (Chris Banchero), New (Chris Newsome), it wasn’t easy getting there.”
Meralco emerged as the third seed after the eliminations with a 6-5 mark and made short work of sister squad NLEX with a two-game sweep in their Last Eight clash.
Then the Bolts hurdled their tormentors in all their setbacks in the Big Dance before–the Ginebra Kings–in a seven-game semifinals duel.
Meralco remained unfazed in the finals despite facing an obviously favored SMB quintet.
“They needed to work hard to earn it not just in this game but also during the entire series,” Trillo said. “I’m just proud of the way these guys battled through it. You know, it was one of those series where every game was very close and came down to the wire.
