Meralco rues lack of time with Patrick Gardner after semis exit

Meralco import Patrick Gardner during Game 6 of the PBA semifinals against TNT.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

ANTIPOLO—For most of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, Meralco leaned on import Marvin Jones.

But a mid-series switch to Patrick Gardner during the semifinals forced the Bolts into an adjustment period they never fully got to complete.

That lack of time together surfaced again on Sunday night as Meralco bowed out of the conference, absorbing a 97-94 defeat to TNT in the deciding game of their semifinal series at Ynares Center.

READ: TNT beats Meralco, sets up PBA Finals rematch vs Ginebra

For CJ Cansino, a longer stint with Gardner could have helped the Bolts develop better chemistry.

“Patrick has such a high character so we didn’t have a hard time gelling with him because he has a good attitude and he’s easy to work with,” Cansino told the Inquirer.

“I guess, if we were with him longer, our team chemistry would’ve been better.”

Gardner did everything he could in his final game for Meralco, finishing with 32 points and 13 rebounds. But it wasn’t enough to keep the Bolts’ title hopes alive.

The former Japan B.League standout suited up in only three games for Meralco after replacing Jones midway through the semifinals.

READ: PBA: Patrick Gardner wastes no time fitting in with Meralco

Chris Newsome, however, refused to use the situation as an excuse.

The veteran guard noted that TNT had to navigate similar challenges after replacing Bol Bol with Chris McCullough when Bol suffered a partially torn Achilles injury.

“They’re in the same situation too where if they had more time with C-Mac, they could’ve had more chemistry as well,” Newsome said.

TNT ultimately overcame those adjustments and advanced to the PBA Finals, where it will face Barangay Ginebra.

Newsome finished with 15 points and two rebounds in Meralco’s season-ending loss.