Apparently, it’s not just the Meralco Bolts as a whole who have grown in their surge in the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup.
Third-year floor general Baser Amer is immensely proud to share that he has now developed into an effective leader for the Orangemen, despite the team being filled with a lot of veterans several years older than him.
Amer and Meralco are now a dreaded unit after starting the conference with a 1-6 card, as they collected their seventh win in a row on Sunday night versus the Alaska Aces in Game One of their semifinal series.
“Naging proud din ako sa sarili ko kasi yung maturity nade-develop ko na.
“‘Yung pagiging vocal sa team kahit matatanda sila, kahit sa age ko na ganito napapasunod ko sila. Yung leadership, kumbaga,” said the 26-year-old.
Becoming the leader of the MVP-owned franchise is expected of Amer – the Bolts’ seventh overall pick in the 2015 Draft – especially after Jimmy Alapag decided to hang his basketball sneakers back in 2016.
But more than his personal achievements, what also makes Amer proud is the way the Bolts have turned their fortunes around in the season-ending conference.
“Parang nakukuha na namin talaga yung laro namin – kung ano yung Meralco dati,” said Amer. “Kahit ako ‘di ko rin ma-explain.
“Every game namin do or die e … Kahit kami nagugulat ba’t kami nananalo, kaya nage-enjoy na rin kami.”
Now, with the way they have been playing, the Bolts aren’t looking to take a step back – they now aim to post a commanding 2-0 lead over the Milkmen when they cross paths again in Game Two this Tuesday, November 13.
“Sabi nga ni coach it’s been an amazing run. Pero mababalewala yun lahat if matatalo kami this semis,” said one of San Beda’s all-time greats.