Black: PBA not four-way race

MANILA, Philippines — Meralco coach Norman Black isn’t considering the coming PBA wars as a “four-cornered fight” among powerhouse squads San Miguel, Ginebra, Magnolia and TNT Tropang Giga.

Black, whose team came a win shy of making the finals of the last Philippine Cup, believes the rest of the field can break the stranglehold of the four, which have all beefed up their rosters with quality acquisitions.

“Any of those teams can be beat. And that’s what we’ll try to do this coming conference,” he said in yesterday’s Power & Play program on Radyo Singko.

Black’s assessment differed from that of NLEX counterpart Yeng Guiao, who earlier said it would be hard to crack the top four against the Beermen, Gin Kings, Hotshots and Tropang Giga.

Guiao had labeled the coming PBA tournament as a “battle for fifth place.”

“I’m not naïve. I know San Miguel, Ginebra, Magnolia and TNT. They are the favorites because they have the most talent. But other teams have also improved their talent level,” said Black.

The Bolts themselves brought in reinforcements led by trade acquisition Mac Belo and blue-chip rookie Alvin Pasaol to join forces with holdovers like Chris Newsome, Raymond Almazan and Reynel Hugnatan.

The contenders to the four heavyweights have a chance if they catch a “break,” according to Black.

“They can’t have injuries to key players, particularly in the most important moments of the tournament. Guys also have to peak at the right time. If we can do that, you never know what might happen,” he said.

And of course, they have to win the big games and make big baskets, recalling Scottie Thompson’s buzzer-beating trey that pushed Ginebra past Meralco in the semis sudden death.

“You have to win a game like that and make those shots to make it to the next level,” said Black.