Tanduay, Marinerong Pilipino agawan sa huling semis spot

Laro Ngayon
(Ynares Sports Arena)
4 p.m. Marinerong Pilipino vs Tanduay
(Quarterfinals, Game 2)

ISA ang magpapaalam sa pagitan ng Marinerong Pilipino Skippers at Tanduay Rhum Masters ngayong hapon sa matira-matibay na ikalawang laro sa quarterfinals kung saan pinag-aagawan ang nakatayang silya sa semifinals ng 2017 PBA D-League Foundation Cup sa Ynares Sports Arena sa Pasig City.

Huling tinalo ng Skippers ang Rhum Masters, 74-72, noong Huwebes upang mapuwersa ang winner-take-all Game 2 sa quarterfinals ngayong alas-4 ng hapon.

“To be honest, sa pinapakita ng team ko, we might have a hard time contending. I think we can squeeze out in the quarters, but semis might be a different story,” sabi ni Tanduay coach Lawrence Chongson.

Ikinatatakot ni Chongson ang pagiging ‘inconsistent’ ng kanyang mga manlalaro kumpara sa mas may motibasyon na Marinerong Pilipino sa ilalim ni coach Koy Banal.

Gayunman, naniniwala si Chongson na bibitbitin ng mga beterano ng Tanduay ang koponan upang lampasan ang hamon ng Skippers at hindi masayang ang hawak nitong twice-to-beat advantage.

“Itong mga ganitong do-or-die games ang nagpapa-excite sa amin. We would’ve wanted to go the easy way out, but it is what is. Our opponents were able to prove that in spite of being newcomers, they’re no pushovers. So we’ll have to show them more respect, I suppose, moving forward to Game 2,” sabi pa ni Chongson.

Pilit naman ipagpapatuloy ni Marinerong Pilipino coach Koy Banal ang matinding paggiya sa Skippers na itinala ang winning streak sa anim na sunod.

“We believe that miracles still happen,” sabi ni Banal. “Our goal from the start is to just to make it to the semis and we’ll figure it out. And with the way we’re playing, the boys are willing to give their all, showing it through their actions and not by words.”

Pinapanatili rin ni Banal ang kaisipan sa Skippers na wala pa itong nakakamit sa kanilang target at hindi pa naabot ang kanilang destinasyon.

“It’s going to be a new day,” sabi nito. “We’re just as good as our last game. We may be in a momentum, but Tanduay is a different kind of animal. We have to prepare hard and work hard with them again to get the win.”