The Meralco Bolts walked away from their season opener with more than just a heartbreaking one-point defeat. Head coach Luigi Trillo left the Smart Araneta Coliseum believing the outcome could have been different if the game had been officiated with greater consistency.
Meralco pushed the Phoenix Fuel Masters to the limit despite playing without import Jordon Varnado, who remained sidelined as he continues to recover from a minor injury. The Bolts relied on their all-Filipino core and nearly stole the contest before eventually falling, 98-97, in a game decided by the slimmest of margins.
Rather than dwelling on the result itself, Trillo pointed to several late-game sequences that, in his view, highlighted inconsistencies in how contact was called.
“I think both teams played well. Congrats to Phoenix. It came down to possessions. But I don’t know, those last few possessions, they didn’t call fouls. They went three times to the basket and there were fouls called,” Trillo told reporters after the game.
“Our main guy, star player, [Chris] Newsome gets hacked three times but there’s no call. So I can understand why our guys, I kind of shook hands and then I saw they were all there, even our governor, the manager,” he added.
One of the biggest moments came with just 43 seconds left, when Phoenix’s JL Delos Santos denied Chris Newsome near the basket. Trillo believed the play deserved a whistle and said such moments have a major impact on the outcome of close contests.
“Those calls need to be made because those are decisions where you dictate the game. So they got to the free-throw line three times in those last three possessions and we did not… I think you have to come down to consistency,” he said.
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“And these little things in the end, that’s tough for us. But again, you have to roll with the punches. 26 to 20 fouls. I think if they had called one or two, it wouldn’t be that far. Clearly, Phoenix earned that win because they kept on trying. They were down hard. They got to the basket. They were aggressive and they got some calls,” Trillo said.
While the PBA has begun aligning its officiating standards more closely with FIBA rules, Trillo clarified that his concern is not about adapting to new interpretations but ensuring both teams are judged under the same standard throughout the game.
“No adjustment. It’s clear. If our guy gets to the basket and if that gets hit here, that’s a foul. And you see them going to the basket, it’s the same. I like the way things are. But at the end of the day, coaches get fired. They should put pressure on the referee or the guy in charge. He should also get fired if he’s not doing his job,” he said.
“We’re at the short end of the stick this time, so it is what it is. But clearly, at the end, it’s not a guarantee you’ll win the game. But you’re just looking for consistency from both,” Trillo added.
Despite the loss, the Bolts showed encouraging signs even without their reinforcement. CJ Cansino led Meralco with 18 points, three rebounds, and one assist, while Allein Maliksi added 16 points and two rebounds. Brandon Bates anchored the paint with a double-double of 14 points and 15 rebounds.
Meralco now shifts its attention to its next assignment, where replacement import Antonio Hester is expected to make his debut. The Bolts aim to bounce back on Saturday when they face the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, hoping a reinforced lineup can turn a promising performance into their first win of the campaign.
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