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Black stays positive despite failing to secure maiden title for Meralco

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2016/nation2/10/20/meralco-bolts-pba.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">The Meralco Bolts receive their runner-up trophy after losing to Ginebra. Photo courtesy of the PBA Media Bureau</div></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines – A historic conference ended in heartbreak for the Meralco Bolts on Wednesday, when Justin Brownlee&#x27;s three-pointer found the bottom of the net at the buzzer of Game 6 of the 2016 PBA Governors&#x27; Cup Finals.The Bolts, who scrapped their way from a 1-10 record in the All-Filipino Cup to make their first ever Finals appearance in the final conference of the season, could only stare in disbelief as the Gin Kings and their fans celebrated around them at the Araneta Coliseum.The 91-88 win had given Ginebra its first crown in eight years, and denied the Bolts a chance to force a Game 7.<ul class="op-related-articles" title="Read">	<li>READ: <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/basketball/news/2016/10/20/ginebra-title-win-puts-end-kangkong-jokes-16798">Ginebra title win puts an end to all &#x27;Kangkong&#x27; jokes</a></li></ul>They had squandered a double-digit first-half lead and went blow-for-blow with Ginebra in a thrilling, heart-stopping fourth quarter. But in the end, the Gin Kings landed the knockout punch. The confetti machines had not even stopped firing when the Bolts filed out of court, one by one, and trooped to their locker room.Meralco head coach Norman Black said the first thing they discussed in the dugout was the final play, when the game was tied at 88 with 5.5 seconds left.&quot;We should have fouled in the last play. That was the instruction. We did not, and it cost us the game,&quot; he said.Yet Black knew that it was not the time to dwell on instructions that were not followed, or blown defensive assignments, or missed gimmes. Instead, it was time to remind his team of the gravity of their achievement in the conference, even if they had fallen short of their ultimate goal.&quot;I wanted to thank all of them,&quot; said Black, &quot;For the effort that they put in, and for the run we went on in this conference.&quot;&quot;I think it was very unexpected by most people, that we would be in this position right now, and I was very proud of what the players had done in this tournament,&quot; he added.Indeed, few even gave Meralco a chance of getting past the top-seeded TNT KaTropa in the semifinals. Yet they won the series in four games, with several players finding ways to contribute on both ends of the floor. In their first ever Finals series as a team, they took a 2-1 lead against Ginebra before losing the last three games, all in heartbreaking fashion.Black said the talk inside the locker room was &quot;very positive.&quot; &quot;At this point, there&#x27;s nothing to be negative about,&quot; he added. &quot;We can&#x27;t bring it back.&quot;Even though they were unable to win the franchise&#x27;s first ever title, not all was lost in the season, Black noted. After their awful performance in the All-Filipino Cup, they turned things around in the import-laced conferences and established themselves as contenders.&quot;Despite losing the championship, we were able to gain a couple of Best Imports this year,&quot; said Black, referring to Arinze Onuaku and Allen Durham. &quot;We have the Rookie of the Year (Chris Newsome).&quot;&quot;So certainly, the team has shown a lot of promise, a lot of improvement,&quot; he added. &quot;And we&#x27;re not finished yet.&quot;Black is now turning his eyes on the Rookie Draft on October 30. The Bolts own the seventh pick of the first round, and the fourth pick of the second round, and Black is anticipating that they can select &quot;at least two promising players.&quot;&quot;We feel that should make us a much better team going into the (All-Filipino) conference in the next year,&quot; he said.As for the players who were in a subdued mood inside the dugout, Black said he encouraged them to &quot;keep their heads up.&quot;&quot;The All-Filipino starts in a month,&quot; he said. &quot;So we don&#x27;t really have time to put our heads down. We have to get a little bit of rest, then start to prepare for the next conference.&quot;For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.

A historic conference ended in heartbreak for the Meralco Bolts on Wednesday, when Justin Brownlee's three-pointer found the bottom of the net at the buzzer of Game 6 of the 2016 PBA Governors' Cup Finals.

A historic conference ended in heartbreak for the Meralco Bolts on Wednesday, when Justin Brownlee's three-pointer found the bottom of the net at the buzzer of Game 6 of the 2016 PBA Governors' Cup Finals.

Black stays positive despite failing to secure maiden title for Meralco

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Black stays positive despite failing to secure maiden title for Meralco

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 20, 2016 02:04 PM PHT

Read More:

PBA

PBA Governors' Cup Finals

Meralco Bolts

Norman Black

GInebra

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