(UPDATE) REACHING the Philippine Cup finals for the first time in franchise history is a huge confidence booster for the Meralco Bolts. And coach Luigi Trillo gives the credit to whom credit is due.
The soft-spoken Trillo took the time to honor Meralco active consultant Nenad Vucinic, who has helped transform the Bolts side from a title contender to a real championship-caliber squad.
"This is big for our franchise. We've been to (the Finals in) other conferences with import, but this is the first time in the All-Filipino. And i just want to give credit where credit is also due, because the players always get recognition here, but the guy in charge of our basketball program, coach Nenad, when I see coach Tim on other side, being the national coach, coach Nenad is also a (former) national coach," said Trillo, moments after the Bolts outlasted the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 78-69, in a thrilling Game 7 finish on Friday in San Jose, Batangas to advance to the Philippine Cup best-of-seven title series.
Meralco will face top seed and tournament favorite San Miguel Beer beginning this Wednesday for the All-Filipino conference championship.
"He's the captain of our ship. He made a lot of things to bring the best out of the guys," he added.
The 59-year-old Vucinic, who had a brief coaching stint with Gilas, is an accomplished bench tactician, having been named New Zealand NBL Coach of the Year five times, and being a three-time New Zealand League champion coach as well.
Internationally, the Serbian-Kiwi mentor has also brought his championship pedigree after winning championships as a coach in the Estonian and Turkish League.
But now, Vucinic hopes to add to his already impressive coaching resume a league title in the PBA.
Trillo said Vucinic's impact is evident with the way the players carried themselves and even handled the pressure, especially after being down, 2-3 in the semis series when the Gin Kings took an 89-84 triumph last Sunday.
"The guys were poised. We beat them now back-to-back (in a series) and that's something to be proud about," he said. "Everybody's picking up each other."
Trillo said Meralco will savor the victory for the moment, but will have little rest from there since the team will have to begin preparing against SMB.
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