Luigi Trillo says the Meralco Bolts are ready for a tough quarterfinals battle as their title defense begins

The Meralco Bolts entered the ongoing Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup as the defending champions and experienced a mixed run during the elimination stage, finishing with a 6–5 win-loss record to secure eighth place.

While the Bolts clinched a spot in the quarterfinals over two weeks ago, earning the lowest seed in the playoff draw may have been a disappointment for both players and management. They now face PBA powerhouse San Miguel Beermen in the quarterfinals next week. Meralco head coach Luigi Trillo acknowledges the tough challenge ahead but believes it’s not impossible to overcome.

One reason for his optimism is the international exposure the Bolts gained by reaching the quarterfinals of the 2025 Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL Asia).

‘BE A GOOD PERSON, BE A GOOD ROLE MODEL’ 🧡

Meralco Bolts’ Cliff Hodge honors his father this Father’s Day by remembering his advice to always be a good person. | via Jan Ballesteros/One Sports#PBASeason49 #PBAAngatAngLaban pic.twitter.com/teJpOfPrmt

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) June 15, 2025

“It’s a good opportunity for us to come together and push for a semifinal spot, even with a twice-to-beat disadvantage. We knew this campaign would be difficult—BCL Asia became a distraction from the PBA, especially since we had to split the squad and leave seven guys behind in Manila,” Trillo said in a media interaction.

The Bolts are no strangers to adversity. Last season, they overcame multiple contenders—including NLEX Road Warriors and San Miguel—on their way to winning the PBA championship. This time, despite a fractured rotation and limited preparation, they have relied on chemistry, resilience, and determination to remain competitive.

“It will take a lot of determination and hard work,” Trillo added.

It will be intriguing to see how Meralco responds to San Miguel’s stacked lineup when the two teams clash on Friday, June 20, at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

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