With Meralco clinching a quarterfinal slot in the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup on Friday, Anjo Caram has made it known that he and the Bolts are now keen on grabbing one of the top two spots for a win-once incentive in the playoffs.
The Orangemen formalized their entry by whitewashing the also-ran Blackwater Elite, 102-75, at the Mall of Asia Arena. In the victory that upped their card to 6-2, Caram had been the spark off the bench as he finished with 13 points.
“Going into the playoffs we want to enter the stretch in a winning note eh, kasi siyempre we want to finish in one of the top two spots para magkaroon kami ng twice-to-beat,” said the 27-year-old floor general moments after the match.
However, the Bolts won’t be treading a smooth road towards their goal.
Meralco’s last three games in the eliminations are tough assignments. Their journey to the Top Two will start this Sunday right away versus the depleted yet surging Alaska Aces, who’s in the midst of a six-game winning run.
After the Milkmen, the Bolts will face last year’s runners-up TNT Katropa, who now has the hefty Joshua Smith in tow, on June 22. And ultimately, Meralco will be locking horns with the current league leaders Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
“Yung mga remaining teams na makakalaban namin is yung mga nasa taas,” rued Caram.
It may daunting, but the five-foot-seven cager from Iloilo City believes that the Bolts have a chance against the top teams this conference as long as they stick to their bread-and-butter for the longest time, which is defense.
“Sabi nga ni Coach Norman [Black] we control our own destiny. Malaki yung chance namin basta imaintain lang namin yung defense namin at yung gameplan, i-execute,” shared Caram.
“Yun talaga nagpapa-panalo samin.”
