Besides their mission to exact revenge on last year’s tormentors Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, the Meralco Bolts have been playing inspired basketball in their Governors’ Cup campaign because of one man.
“At the start of the conference, we got together as a team and said we want to win a championship for Sir Al Panlilio,” disclosed team manager Paolo Trillo.
Meralco team governor Panlilio, 53, has been ailing for the past few months due to an undisclosed sickness. After the Southeast Asian Basketball Association Championships, the president of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has been abroad receiving treatment.
Still, Panlilio continued to support his team, even going to Sta. Rosa, Laguna last Wednesday to watch the Bolts sweep the Star Hotshots.
“He’s the special reason for us in wanting to win it all this year, sir Al can’t be with us. He has been attending to a medical condition for the past months,” admitted Trillo.
“He’s very much involved with the team, he very much involved in the planning and everything that goes on in the team.”
With this, the top-seeded team wants this campaign to end with gold as tribute to their tireless governor.
“That is extra motivation for us to win the championship.”
