It looks like the Meralco Bolts have found their new dynamic duo in Baser Amer and Trevis Jackson.
The backcourt tandem delivered the goods on Wednesday evening, in the Orangemen’s 101-92 victory over the Columbian Dyip. The win also softened their loss to the Blackwater Elite in the 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup opener last Sunday a little bit.
Amer led Meralco’s locals with 21 points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Meanwhile, rookie Jackson impressed with 17 points, four assists, three rebounds, and two steals as well. They were both part of the starting crew.
“My locals played very, very well today, especially my guards,” lauded Bolts head coach Norman Black of the two, who both shot 6-of-11 from the field.
“All three starting guards played well, led by Baser Amer and Trevis Jackson.
“A lot of my talent right now is based on my guard line with Trevis, Baser, [Chris] Newsome, Mike [Tolomia], Nards [Pinto], so I’m just finding a way to utilize the best out of their talents. If it means having to play them together, then I will,” he continued.
Both Jackson and Amer were motivated to bounce back versus Columbian following Sunday’s loss.
The Bolts actually had a chance to win the game over the Elite in regulation when Jackson, 23, created enough space by shaking off Mike DiGregorio for a jumper. Unfortunately, his shot missed, and it sent the game into OT.
Amer, meanwhile, had a lackluster outing in that game. In the 19 minutes and 11 seconds he played, the four-year pro only shot 2-of-4 from the field. Amer finished with just four points, on top of two rebounds, an assist, and a steal.
“It’s a great bounce-back win. Like I said before, I felt like I let my team down in the last game, so I felt like we all bounced back not just myself. We culminated great energy in practice leading up to this and it showed,” Jackson said.
Meanwhile, the 26-year-old Davaoeño Amer added, “Naging aggressive lang ako sa offense kasi last game konti lang attempts ko. Dinagdagan ko lang ngayon.
“May mga bad shots akong na-take pero i-improve ko yun sa practice.”
Now that they have redeemed themselves from that forgettable outing – and have clearly shown that Meralco are a much more dangerous team once they click – Jackson and Amer acknowledged each other for it.
“I love Baser.
“We keep each other confident – we give each other confidence. My very first day at practice he actually told me, ‘Be aggressive, be aggressive.’ So I just told him the same thing, ‘Be aggressive,'” said the rookie.
“We feed off each other. I realize if one does good the other one feels like they can get going. We give each other good rhythm out there,” added the 5-foot-10 Jackson, the Bolts’ fifth overall pick in the 2018 Rookie Draft.
“Sobrang saya ko na may Trevis kami,” said Amer, on the other hand. “At si Trevis, sobrang bait din niyan. Lagi ko nakikita sa practice yung hard work niya, maaga dumadating at late umuuwi. Yung hard work niya naapply sa game.
“As a rookie tulad niya na may playing time agad, deserving din siya. Kasi maganda ine-ensayo niya.”
