MANILA, Philippines – When Meralco plays NLEX on the weekend in the final of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the PhilSports Arena, EXPECT it to perform better than what it just put on in the EASL.

After losing to Magnolia 72 to 99 last Friday, the Road Warriors are looking for a significant bounce-back to improve their record to 2 to 3. The Bolts are aiming for their second straight victory to increase their record to 4 to 1.

After losing to Magnolia 72 to 99 last Friday, the Road Warriors are looking for a significant bounce-back to improve their record to 2 to 3. The Bolts are aiming for their second straight victory to increase their record to 4 to 1.

Outlining the team’s priorities after suffering a 92 to 97 forfeiture to the Jeremy Lin-led New Taipei Kings last Wednesday in Taipei, leaving them winless after two EASL sessions.

Compared to the fellow American he replaced, Chaffee is undoubtedly more enthusiastic and willing to work as a team. He demonstrated this more than once in his debut game, a 72 to 99 loss to Magnolia on Friday when he scored 10 points in the third quarter after halftime with 13 points and 14 rebounds.

He had flown in just four days before his debut, but the effects of jet lag, getting to know his teammates and the PBA style of play finally caught up to him. He went scoreless in the fourth quarter and ended up with eight of the Road Warriors’ twenty-one total turnovers.

Even worse for NLEX, the Road Warriors lost the last 24 minutes of play, being outscored 55 to 26, because none of the local players were able to step up when Chaffee started to fade.

But there are nags at Trillo due to the former Tennessee mainstay’s presence as well as the return of Matt Nieto and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser to action.

Nevertheless, Meralco’s situation is not the same, as Anjo Caram is battling hamstring problems and Aaron Black and Allein Maliksi still need to heal from their injuries. Due to flu-like symptoms, Norbert Torres, Alvin Pasaol, Jolo Mendoza, and Brandon Bates are also questionable.

Though Cliff Hodge, Chris Banchero, Su Braimoh, and Raymond Almazan—all of whom were crucial in the Bolts’ 109-95 victory over TNT last Sunday—are healthy enough to lead the remaining Bolts, which also include Chris Newsome, Bong Quinto, and Diego Dario, Trillo is still upbeat.

Not to mention the plans that Trillo, Nenad Vucinic, an active consultant, and their team have created.