“We had an opportunity to win it.”
Coach Norman Black said it best — the Meralco Bolts had all the chances to thwart Joshua Smith and the TNT Katropa in the deciding Game Three of their quarterfinal series, Friday night at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
But then, they missed on those chances.
The Bolts even led by as much as 14 points in the third canto, only to blow it up as they crumbled in the fourth period, eventually gassing out in overtime, 104-96, that lifted TNT to the 2017 Commissioner’s Cup semifinals.
And for Meralco, the loss sends them out of the mid-season conference.
“We played hard. We certainly should have won the game. We had an opportunity to win it,” lamented Black moments after their bout.
“We had our chances, but TNT did not give up the comeback and won the game.”
The Bolts could have been the ones in the semis had they secured the ball well. Turnovers jeopardized their chances, with the most painful coming from Chris Newsome and his failed inbound pass that helped TNT send the match into OT.
“We made some mistakes down the stretch — throwing the ball away and committing a foul on the same play which basically sent the game into overtime. Couldn’t make a foul shot that could have made the difference,” Black rued.
“It happens.”
But instead of taking the loss too much, Black and his troops are moving on from it, telling his players that the defeat they absorbed will be charged to their experience.
“I told the players that it’s all about learning experience. Obviously, in the end, its going to be one winner so everybody else is gonna be losers. Its just heartbreaking because we should’ve won the game — we were right there, we made the mistakes down the stretch to lose the game.
“Hopefully when we get into this situation, we won’t make those same mistakes,” said the 59-year-old.
The Bolts may be out, but the season is not yet over for them. They will have ample time to prepare for the season-ending Governor’s Cup, and Black confirmed that a vital piece from their 2016 Governor’s Cup silver run is coming back.
“Allen Durham,” shared the nine-time PBA champion coach when asked who will their import be for the season finale.
“He’ll be here next conference.”
