• SHOPINAS HOPES TO CLICK VS. DEPLETED BOLTS

MERALCO coach Ryan Gregorio was hopeful when guard Sol Mercado stepped onto the practice court
Tuesday. The feeling was immediately replaced by a discouraging finding.

“He is not (yet) ready,” related Gregorio.

The news should be a welcome one for newcomer Shopinas.com, which the undermanned Bolts face
Wednesday in their PBA Philippine matchup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Clickers have an intact lineup and should pounce on the Bolts’ dire predicament in the form of
an acute manpower shortage if they hope to notch their first-ever PBA win.

Bolts main man Mark Cardona has joined Mercado, Reynel Hugnatan and Chris Ross in the injured list,
leaving them with mostly role players for the game against a bunch of raw but undoubtedly talented
Clickers crew.

Still, Gregorio put up a brave front.

“Our starters are out, but our spirit is not broken. It is a great opportunity for the other
players to play and take responsibility for us to win,” he said, adding prepping his remaining
players to step up is his most major concern.

“The mind-set is the hardest thing to transform because from role players, they are now entrusted
to be go-to players,” Gregorio stated, referring to the likes of Mark Macapagal, Mark Yee, Chico
Lanete and new acquisition Mark Borboran.

“Some players will freeze when the opportunity arises, but I am confident that they are willing to
seize the occasion and make things happen.”

Cardona suffered a severe high-ankle sprain just five minutes into Meralco’s debut against Talk N
Text last Friday – an 80-98 loss – leaving Gregorio to hope the high-scoring wingman will be out
for “just three weeks” at the most.  

Mercado and Hugnatan are sporting knee injuries that may sideline them for at least another month
while Ross’ rebound from a torn ACL is not expected until December.

Despite being fully assembled in just over a month Shopinas had shown it could compete in the league
by bucking two early 24-point deficits and repeatedly menacing Powerade in their debut game last
Wednesday.

The lack of an able source of sustained firepower, especially in the fourth period, however, led to
an 87-98 loss by the Clickers.

Gregorio said that does not make the Clickers less threatening, considering Meralco’s own manpower
problems.

“Shopinas is dangerous. We are not coming in as overwhelming favorites,” Gregorio pointed out.

The key for the Bolts lie mostly in exploiting Asi Taulava’s experience in the shaded lanes and,
equally important, on making stops.

“Defense will be the key if we are to compete and hold the fort until we are complete,” stated
Gregorio, before adding, “Nobody to rely on now except ourselves.”