The Meralco Bolts are a perennial playoff team, but in this PBA Governors’ Cup they’ve looked nothing of that sort. With original import Jordon Varnado sidelined to start the conference, the Bolts have been unable to find their footing—losing their first game, winning back‑to‑back, and then going on a four‑game slump.
Meralco, though, ended the first half of the Governors’ Cup with a 97‑88 drubbing of rivals Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, and that could be the spark it needs heading into the conference restart this month.
Where Does Meralco Stand at the Moment
The Bolts are currently 3‑5 in Group B for fifth place. That means Meralco is currently out of the magic four, as it is two losses clear of fourth‑running Blackwater Bossing. Actually, the Bolts are in a virtual tie with Ginebra at the cellar, with the barangay having only four losses to Meralco’s five, while the Bolts have three wins to Ginebra’s two.
Needless to say, Meralco will need to win its remaining games in the restart starting with Blackwater on October 13 and the Phoenix Fuel Masters three days later on October 16. Even then, its chances of making it to at least the quarterfinals could depend on the other teams’ performances moving forward.
What to Watch Out for When Meralco Returns
When the league restarts, keep an eye on import Jordon Varnado and the Bolts’ consistency. Varnado missed Meralco’s first seven games, but finally made his PBA debut against Ginebra just right before the extended break. And he was sensational, firing 31 points to go along with 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks, and a couple of big shots in the fourth quarter to quell Ginebra’s late‑game fightback. Put simply, Varnado showed why he was the Bolts’ original choice, and he’ll have two more games to propel the team into the playoffs.
Worth watching out for as well is Meralco’s consistency—or the lack thereof. The Bolts are maddening that way. One game they look like contenders, then the next game they seem to be cellar dwellers. What’s more, the Bolts’ performances ebb and flow in an actual game. One half, Chris Banchero and company can’t miss. The next half, not even Chris Newsome can buy a bucket. This inconsistency is no doubt holding back the Bolts.
Locals to Keep an Eye On
All eyes will be on CJ Cansino in the restart. The young guard looked headed for superstardom in the first two conferences but has since slowed down, partly due to nagging injuries. This conference, he is averaging just 12.7 points on 31.6% shooting from deep to go with only 2.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists. With over a month of rest, Cansino should be fully healthy when action resumes, and he’ll have two games to prove that his rise will continue.
Keep an eye also on Allein Maliksi. Hurt for the first two conferences in Season 50, the former UST Growling Tiger made his return to Meralco in the Governors’ Cup, and he has shown he can still be a spark offensively. In seven games so far, Maliksi is putting up 7.3 points on nearly two makes from downtown on a 52.0% clip in just 10.5 minutes off the bench. He could just be warming up.
Outlook
The Bolts will have to be perfect in the restart if they want to make it to the quarters—but they likely will need help from other teams, too. That means making the playoffs could be a long shot for Meralco this conference.
