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Meralco Bolts import Patrick Gardner during a game vs TNT Tropang 5G in the 2026 PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals Game 4. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Meralco made a stunning move in the middle of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals. And it has so far paid off.
Coach Luigi Trillo was mum regarding the import change from Marvin Jones to Patrick Gardner. Team consultant Nenad Vucinic, however, had all the answers on why the Bolts pulled something like that in the middle of a playoff series.
“We just thought we had some really average games,” Vucinic told the Inquirer after their Game 4 win over TNT at Araneta Coliseum, referring to the times when Jones backstopped the Bolts. “Our chemistry was getting lost completely and our team can’t play with that chemistry.
“I knew that Patrick is a high-character guy. He won’t spoil anything and he would help us create that atmosphere.”
Jones was Meralco’s reinforcement since the beginning of the import laden conference, and Meralco finished as the fourth seed after the elimination round.
Game 3 heartbreak
The Bolts then lost a game they were heavily favored to win, Game 3, where the Tropang 5G played all Filipino after Bol Bol had ruptured an Achilles early in the previous outing.
Gardner then only had 72 hours to gel with the team but still led Meralco past TNT, 101-90 for the series equalizer.
Of course, his debut was anything but perfect. After all, he just came off a heartbreaking loss in the Japan B.League B2 Finals two weeks prior.
“It’s a very difficult situation for him and us as a team,” Vucinic went on. “We couldn’t run much of our system (with a new import). But he’s done well to learn whatever he could in just a couple of days.
“We’re happy with his performance,” he added. “But like I said before, we’re not expecting too much of him. Our locals have to step up.”
The former Fukushima Firebond had 20 points and 13 rebounds in his PBA debut before fouling out late in the fourth quarter, leaving Meralco to play all Filipino in the endgame.
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