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PBA: Norman Black trying to balance developing rookies, winning

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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/news-special1/sports/12/22/norman-black-122216.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Meralco coach Norman Black wants to address the team&#x27;s inability to close out games. Photo courtesy of the PBA Media Bureau </div></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines — Meralco coach Norman Black is undoubtedly disappointed with how his team lost to Phoenix on Wednesday, yet at the same time he stressed the need to develop their rookie players.The Bolts led by as many as 12 points in the third quarter and were up by 10 heading into the fourth quarter of their PBA Philippine Cup showdown against the Fuel Masters, only for Black&#x27;s players to commit a rash of turnovers early in the fourth that allowed Phoenix to trim the deficit.Meralco had its chances in the end and even led by two points, 90-88, with 1:26 to play after a clutch three-pointer by rookie Jonathan Grey, but on the other end, Phoenix veteran Cyrus Baguio responded with a cold-blooded triple of his own that turned out to be the go-ahead bucket.The Fuel Masters won the game 94-90, sending Meralco to a second straight defeat.<ul class="op-related-articles" title="Read">	<li>READ: <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/basketball/news/2016/12/21/phoenix-gets-merry-christmas-emotional-win-19541">Phoenix gets a Merry Christmas after emotional win</a></li></ul>&quot;It&#x27;s a disappointing loss,&quot; said Black after the game. &quot;We were up by 10 points to start the fourth quarter and we were expected to win the game.&quot;&quot;But the team that I had there, they gave up the lead in a short period of time,&quot; he said. &quot;Credit to Phoenix for making the big plays down the stretch.&quot;This marks the second straight game that Meralco has squandered a fourth-quarter lead and lost. In the Bolts&#x27; previous game against Alaska, they were up by nine points in crunch time only to fall apart in the face of a searing end-game rally by the Aces.&quot;That seems to be a problem,&quot; Black said of their inability to close out games.&quot;Right now, we&#x27;re playing a couple of rookies a lot of minutes, because we want to develop them. I think they&#x27;re very good players, and with that, sometimes you&#x27;re gonna make some mistakes down the stretch.&quot;Black was referring to Grey and Ed Daquioag, both of whom have been solid — and at times impressive — for Meralco, yet at the same time they commit the kind of mistakes that all rookies make.Against Phoenix, Grey gave up two free throws to Matthew Wright that all but iced the game. Daquioag, meanwhile, was among the players who committed turnovers early in the fourth that sparked the Fuel Masters&#x27; rally.Yet Black still plans on giving his rookies crunch time minutes.&quot;It&#x27;s a long year, and as much as I want to win every game, I want to make sure I develop my guys for future games,&quot; he explained.&quot;We never like losing, so this is a bad feeling. So we just have to move on to the next game.&quot;The Bolts wrap up their 2016 schedule on Wednesday next week against defending All-Filipino Cup champions San Miguel Beer.(For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com" target="_blank">Sports website.</a>)

Meralco coach Norman Black is disappointed with how his team lost on Wednesday, yet at the same time he stressed the need to develop their rookie players.

Meralco coach Norman Black is disappointed with how his team lost on Wednesday, yet at the same time he stressed the need to develop their rookie players.

PBA: Norman Black trying to balance developing rookies, winning

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PBA: Norman Black trying to balance developing rookies, winning

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 22, 2016 04:17 PM PHT

Read More:

PBA

Philippine Cup

Meralco Bolts

Norman Black

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