LLAMADOS BRACE FOR TOE-TO-TOE DUEL

Published on April 3, 2012

B-MEG coach Tim Cone believes his team was manhandled by Meralco in their initial PBA Commissioner's
Cup quarterfinals duel last Sunday.

Cone now maintains his Llamados are set on giving the Bolts a dose of their own medicine Wednesday
in Game 2 of the best-of-three series at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

"If they want to turn it into a wrestling or boxing match, we'll be ready to go toe to toe," Cone
stressed.

That should make the game a very scrappy one indeed.

Meralco took the series opener 103-81 last Sunday, but coach Ryan Gregorio admitted it will not be
as one-sided this time around.

"We are not fooled by the final score in Game 1. Even if we won by 22 we know as a matter of fact
that it was not at all easy and it will be harder in Game 2," said Gregorio on the eve of the match.

The key to a followup victory, added Gregorio, is for his charges to once again make the necessary
stops while continuously battling for those boards.

"We were rewarded with a victory against an incredibly strong team with defense as our strongest
weapon," stated Gregorio after his Bolts limited the Llamados to just 5-for-18 field shooting in the
fourth period. They also emerged with a 48-40 advantage in the rebounding department in Game 1,
including 17-6 in the pivotal fourth canto.

"The same kind of defensive effort is required for us to have a clear shot at them again," added
Gregorio.

Cone has a different take on what happened in the opener that saw his team get outscored 23-4 in the
final 7:57 of the match. In that span, Cone was also ejected for two technical fouls just a little
over two minutes apart for vehemently pointing out non-calls to the game officials.

"With the way the referees called Game 1, it more resembled a wrestling match than  a basketball
game," said Cone, specifically pointing out the very physical defense played on Llamados star James
Yap.

Yap scored a teamhigh 21 points but was limited to just five second half-points and none in the
fourth period.

"I feel bad for James. He's being bludgeoned out on the court. I worry about his health," Cone
pointed out.

It is not just Yap who got stifled by Meralco as import Denzel Bowles was limited to 18 points and
seven rebounds against the defense anchored on the 39-year-old Asi Taulava, who, in turn, chipped in
12 points and a gamehigh 13 boards.

"Asi's tough stance in defense is incredible," noted Gregorio. "But he is also scoring and
rebounding in double figures. Although he's 39, he certainly doesn't look like it and his defense
against their import gives us another dimension since Earl (Barron) can focus on weak side
rebounding."

Barron did his usual part by winding up with 34 points and 11 rebounds.

But as Cone has said, it's now a matter of manning up and repaying in kind what Meralco dishes