As Meralco licks wounds, Black sees promise for future: ‘We’re not finished yet’

MANILA, Philippines – The Meralco Bolts may have fallen short this time. But this is only the beginning of their rise.

Head coach Norman Black expressed optimism and confidence in the future of his team, even as they still lick their wounds from a heartbreaking finals loss to Barangay Ginebra in the 2016 PBA Governors’ Cup.

“Despite losing the championship, we were able to gain a couple of Best Imports this year, we have the Rookie of the Year, so certainly the team has shown a lot of promise, a lot of improvement, and we’re not finished yet,” Black said after the 91-88 shocker in Game 6.

(READ: Ginebra conquers Meralco, champion again after 8 years)

After a grinding series with every game decided in the last few possession, Game 6 came down the wire as well with Justin Brownlee delivering the harrowing game-winner from 3-point land to end Ginebra’s 8-year title drought.

Black, a Grand Slam champion coach, said he instructed his players to foul in that final 5.5 seconds but they weren’t able to do it. Brownlee executed the isolation play against Best Import Allen Durham and pulled up from way beyond the arc for the win, leaving all the Bolts on the floor stunned.

“It cost us the game. But after, I was able to get over that,” Black said.

(WATCH: Justin Brownlee hits 3-pointer to clinch championship for Ginebra)

In his post-game talk to his team, Black emphasized the good things that can come next.

“My talk to them was basically very positive, because at this point there’s nothing to be negative about. We can’t bring it back, that was a huge shot by Justin Brownlee. It’s at the buzzer, it’s a 3-pointer at the buzzer so there’s not much we can do about it,” he shared.

“It was basically to thank the players for their effort this year because our year is over. Particularly this conference with this team, and with our import, Allen Durham, I wanted to thank all of them for all of the effort that they put in and for the run we went on in this conference,” he added.

“I think it was very unexpected by most people that we would be in this position right now, and I was very proud of what the players had done in this tournament.“

The Bolts have had a wild season, starting off in the Philippine Cup at the bottom of the standings with a 1-10 record and then reaching the semifinals in the Commissioner’s Cup and the finals at the end.

(READ: Import Durham tells Meralco ‘remember this feeling’ after finals loss)

It was Meralco’s first finals appearance in its 6-year existence. The Bolts also had the two Best Imports of this season – Arinze Onuaku and Durham – as well as the Rookie of the Year in Chris Newsome.

Now, Black is looking ahead to the Rookie Draft slated for October 30. 

“We have a first round pick coming up in the draft. I believe we have Kia or Blackwater’s second round pick which should also be pretty high in the second round so we’re hoping to bring in at least two promising players going into the All-Filipino,” he explained.

“At the same time, we feel that should make us a much better team going into the next conference in the next year.”

An all-new grind awaits as the 2017 Philippine Cup begins on November 20.

“I wanted them to keep their heads up because the all-Filipino probably starts in a month,” Black said. “So we don’t really have time to put our heads down. We have to get a little bit of rest then start to prepare for the next conference.” – Rappler.com