Still our time – PJ Simon
Though facing an upstart GlobalPort squad which paraded the explosive backcourt tandem of Terrence Romeo and Stanley Pringle, Star’s quarterfinal conquest showed that for guys like James Yap and Peter June Simon, it’s still their time.
Yap got it done in Game 1 when the Hotshots mauled the Batang Pier by 53 points, and Simon followed suit in Game 2, pouring 12 of his 14 points in the second quarter as Star built its early lead.
With the 101-94 lead, Star outlasted GlobalPort and bucked a twice-to-win disadvantage to advance to the semifinals of the 2015 PBA Governors’ Cup.
But for Simon, he only had praises for the feisty GlobalPort sentinels.
“Talent-wise, napakagaling nila. Sinasabi lang namin sa sarili namin na time pa rin namin to. Darating din ang time nila dahil sobrang galing talaga nila,” he said.
And as the Hotshots advance to the Final Four, Simon believes that the team is peaking at the right time, reminiscent of their championship runs last season.
“Mahirap i-compare yung last runs namin, pero ngayon, masasabi kong sabay-sabay kami nagpi-peak. Lahat motivated,” he said.
And they need that focus if they want to defend the Governors’ Cup crown.
“Napakaimportante ng title defense kasi parang sinabi sa amin ni coach na we own this conference and hopefully, kung makapasok kami ulit sa Finals, it will be our fourth straight sa Governors’ Cup,” Simon said. “Hopefully ngayon sa semis, ganun pa rin ang focus at hunger namin. Ipakita namin na gusto pa rin namin manalo.” (RL)
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