Coming into the Meralco Bolts-Barangay Ginebra tilt Sunday night, Jared Dillinger was public enemy number one for the Ginebra faithful after posting this tweet after the Bolts’ succumbed to the TNT Katropa last conference.
That one was tough. Hats off to TNT for sticking it out. Beat Ginebra. I can't stand those guys.
— Jared Dillinger (@JDaredevil2) June 9, 2017
For almost the entire night, the majority of the crowd inside the SMART-Araneta Coliseum booed the Filipino-American swing man every time he touched the ball. But Dillinger had the last laugh as Meralco bested Ginebra 93-78 to go to 2-0.
“First and foremost it was a fun game, it was playing against the crowd which boos you. We’re in the entertainment business and that was really entertaining,” the nine-year pro shared after the game.
The 6-foot-4 guard-forward was instrumental in Meralco’s win, scoring 12 of his 17 points in the third frame that saw the Bolts break away from the Gin Kings.
“When you put yourself out there and you say some things, whether you’re joking or you’re serious, and you say stuff like that you better back it up,” furthered Dillinger, who went 6-for-17 from the field to go along with five rebounds and three assists. “Thank goodness we won. I would have heard it for a couple of weeks if we didn’t win that game.
“It’s a game it’s supposed to be fun. We had fun tonight.”
Even if the win was Meralco’s first against Ginebra since Game Three of the 2017 Governors’ Cup Finals, Dillinger did not put too much premium on it, saying that the Bolts could only say that they have avenged their loss last season if they eliminate Ginebra in the playoffs.
“It’s not gonna be revenge unless we beat them in the playoffs and we send their assess home. Then I will feel like we got our revenge,” the five-time PBA champion furthered.
“All jokes aside it was just an elimination game, what matters is the playoffs.”
