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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Meralco coach lauds Hodge, Baclao for stepping up in Game 3

Meralco coach lauds Hodge, Baclao for stepping up in Game 3

Published Oct 8, 2021 11:25 pm

Meralco's Cliff Hodge (left) and Noy Baclao

Two of Meralco’s big men played a huge role in the most important game at this point of the PBA Philippine Cup despite the absence of starting center Raymond Almazan.

Cliff Hodge shook off his ejection the last time while Noy Baclao provided quality minutes for the first time since joining the Bolts, who cut down the Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots’ lead in their best-of-seven semifinal series to 2-1 with a 91-86 win.

Both players stepped up after Almazan didn’t see action due to a sprained left ankle he sustained two days earlier.

Hodge put up seven points and 12 rebounds while showing the usual energy he’s been known for to make up for failing to finish Game 2 due to an ejection in the third quarter.

“The other things that he does in the game do not show up on the statsheet — setting screens, rebounds. When he scores it's really a plus for us which he does sometimes,” said Meralco coach Norman Black.

“But, you know, he's really our hustle guy, and our glue guy as far as defense is concerned,” added Black.

Baclao, meanwhile, should feel a sense of accomplishment with his best game for Meralco with 10 points in almost 27 minutes.

Black’s former player at Ateneo has been trying to regain his old form after suffering an ACL injury while with Alaska back in the 2019 Governors’ Cup. Baclao was picked up by the Bolts in April 2020 but didn’t play in last season’s bubble.

Before Game 3, Baclao had played just six games with averages of 2.0 points and 0.5 rebounds in almost 52 total minutes.

“Noy was big for us defensively. And he was able to add that to the shots that he made on the floor, so he helped us out offensively,” said Black.

“That's the reason why we brought him to the team. We knew when we got him, he wasn't gonna be ready at the start of the conference. We were hoping that he'll be ready come playoff time and, at least for tonight, it really paid off for us.”

With Almazan’s status for Game 4 uncertain while another backup big in Jammer Jamito still under the league’s health and safety protocols, Meralco will need to get more from Hodge, Baclao, Reynel Hugnatan and even Raymar Jose in order to overcome Magnolia frontcourt powered by Ian Sangalang.

Related Tags

Meralco Bolts Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok Cliff Hodge Noy Baclao PBA Philippine Cup pba
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