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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
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04
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26
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2024
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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
04
26
2024
PBA IMAGES
IF PHOENIX coach Ariel Vanguardia is to be believed, then expect his Fuel Masters to rise Friday.
“We should be ashamed of ourselves, we should be to our families, to those who support us,” said Vanguardia following his team’s 79-123 beatdown from resurgent Star last Saturday.
“We didn’t give justice in wearing our uniforms tonight,” added Vanguardia. “Everybody is disappointed, but we’re going to rise from this debacle and come out a better team next game.”
Actually, more than better is needed as Phoenix must come out with its best when it tangles with TNT Ka Tropa in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Texters are themselves coming off an 87-98 loss to Meralco last Friday and are sure to come out snorting in their bid, like the Fuel Masters, to get back on track and break off from a five-team logjam at fifth-running spot.
TNT coach Nash Racela knows his team’s task won’t be easy. “It’s hard to play a team coming off a blowout loss,” he pointed out.
“We need to match Phoenix’s intensity from start to finish.”
Racela has already done his part following that loss to Meralco, calling out some of his players for not “doing” their part.
“It’s more on the mentality, the attitude that we need to change,” explained Racela.
“It’s important for me to start to identify the mistakes and calling out some players on the things they need to change and they need to improve on.
“So it starts with awareness and the next step is making things happen.”
Vanguardia has done the same for his players right after the Star game, where his team trailed by as many as 53 points. But he also took some responsibility for the loss, offering that his team may have “över-prepared.”
Whether the protagonists have made the necessary adjustments in both the physical and mental aspects would be known in their match.
Out to lead Phoenix are JC INtal, Simon Enciso, Matthew Wright, Willy Wilson and Cyrus Baguio, while TNT would be relying most anew on Jayson Castro, Ranidel de Ocampo, Troy Rosario, Moala Tautuaa and Roger Pogoy.
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