Noy Baclao gamble pays off for Meralco in essential win

Meralco ahead Noy Baclao. PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines—Noy Baclao was a hardly-used substitute for Meralco through the eliminations showing in simply 4 video games in exactly 10 minutes an outing, however the veteran massive shone brightly come playoff time.

The 6-foot-5 backup gave his finest efficiency of the season placing up 10 factors, two rebounds, two assists, and one block within the Bolts’ 91-86 Game 3 win over Magnolia within the semifinals of the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup.

Bolts head coach Norman Black mentioned it was this motive that the staff picked up Baclao within the 2020 offseason.

Baclao was Meralco’s finest affect participant of the sport posting a plus-minus of +9 whereas holding the paint for his severely undermanned staff which didn’t have the injured Raymond Almazan on the heart spot.

“We picked up Noy for conditions like this the place we are going to want him within the playoffs to protect greater guys,” mentioned Black Friday after his staff keep away from a 0-3 gap towards the Hotshots.

“I assumed he stepped in and did an excellent job defensively, and he additionally made some photographs for us within the first half. And within the second half, he actually helped us so much.”

Baclao didn’t instantly be part of Meralco within the Clark bubble in 2020 because the staff gave him time to correctly get better from surgical procedure to repair his ruptured proper patellar tendon.

However when the time got here, the large man repaid Meralco’s belief the second he obtained the large alternative.

“Noy was massive for us tonight defensively. That’s the rationale why we introduced him to the staff,” mentioned Black, Baclao’s coach in Ateneo throughout his school days.

The 34-year-old Baclao went a formidable 5-of-6 from the sphere whereas bodying up the Hotshots’ bigs Ian Sangalang and Rafi Reavis.

Black added that it was only a matter of time for Baclao to get his stride, and it couldn’t have come at a greater time than within the playoffs.

“We knew once we obtained him he should gonna be prepared for the beginning of the convention. We’re hoping that he might be prepared come playoff time. And a minimum of for tonight, it paid off for us.”

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