Black urges import Stepheson to step up against TNT

MANILA, Philippines – In import-laden PBA conferences, it’s common principle – and expected – that most everything starts and ends with the reinforcement. Coach Norman Black, a former import himself, holds the same belief.

So it was no surprise that he urged Alex Stepheson to up the energy and lead the Meralco Bolts in the 2017 PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals.

“Alex has to play better,” was Black’s simple answer to what the Bolts need to do in order to turn around the best-of-3 quarterfinals series and force a decider.

“A lot of times when it’s an import conference, let’s face it: the import plays really well, the locals play really well. If the import is not productive then the locals really don’t play that well. We just need for Alex to step up and do a much better job than what he did tonight.”

Stepheson put up a lackluster effort of 9 points and 16 rebounds, plus 4 assists and two blocks. His plus-minus of minus-13 was most indicative of his overall performance in Meralco’s losing game 1 cause against TNT on Monday, June 5.

“I think their (TNT’s) import played only 18 minutes, didn’t even start the game, so we have to take advantage of those situations,” Black added.

“He has to become more dominant, he has to become more productive for us to even have a chance. And hopefully, the locals will follow him and also pick their performance.”

Black, who felt his import lacked energy on both ends of the floor, sat down with Stepheson after the game and in particular encouraged him to use as motivation the fact that TNT did not start its import Josh Smith.

Smith, who said he had the flu although coach Nash Racela noted the starter change was strategy, played only 18 minutes and grabbed just 3 boards. He missed only one of his 9 field goal attempts to finish with 19 points.

“For me, as a former import, it would’ve been insulting for the other team not to start their import. I mean, if you did that against me, I’m gonna get 50 on you,” Black told reporters.

“So he needs to take it personal. The other team is gonna come out and say ‘we can guard you with our local players’ then I would take that to heart, I would take that personal. And I would try to combat it.”

Meralco had usually taken advantage of these situations in the past and have also flourished in import conferences like last season, when their two reinforcements bagged the Best Import awards and one led them to a franchise-first finals appearance in the Governors’ Cup.

The Bolts will try to even things out and force a rubber match come game 2 on Wednesday, June 7.

“We’ll see how he handles it and how he reacts,” Black said. “Anyway, we only have one more game left if he doesn’t play well.” – Rappler.com