The Meralco Bolts are eager to restore order after dropping their PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup opener against Titan Ultra.
The Meralco Bolts aim to bounce back after a surprising 100-96 loss to Titan Ultra Giant Risers in their season opener, as they face the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters on Saturday, October 11.
Tip off is at 7:30 p.m. at the Ynares Center in Montalban.
[RELATED STORY: Looking back at Rain or Shine icon Gabe Norwood’s decorated PBA career]
Meralco’s opening-game defeat was largely due to an outstanding performance by Calvin Abueva, who exploded for a career-high 41 points for Titan Ultra.
CJ Cansino was the brightest spot for the Bolts, leading the charge with 22 points and nine rebounds. Raymond Almazan contributed 16 points, four rebounds, two steals, and three blocks, while Bong Quinto added 15 points and seven rebounds.
Despite the strong individual performances, Meralco simply had no answer for Abueva’s offensive onslaught.
Now, Meralco will shift its focus to Rain or Shine, a team that has been fueled by the announcement of Gabe Norwood's retirement at the end of the conference.
The Elasto Painters are expected to bring extra motivation to this matchup, making it a challenging task for the Bolts.
With Gabe Norwood bidding farewell to a decorated PBA career, Rain or Shine will look to give him the proper send-off by competing at a high level.
Meralco will need to regroup, with key players like Cansino, Almazan, and Quinto stepping up to match the intensity that Rain or Shine will bring to the floor.
They are determined to shake off their opening loss and make a statement in this contest, starting with a much-needed win over the Elasto Painters.
(With reports from Jan Ballesteros)
—
[Editor’s note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]