PLUGGING THE HOLES
COMPARED to some other teams with manpower problems, Air21 and Meralco are better off.
Yet the holes the Express and Bolts have to fill up are equally as gaping as the injury-plagued squads, more so Wednesday when they clash in the PLDT myDSL- PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Either one is going to barge into the win-column and start gaining lost ground. First, however, they must find solutions to the problems gnawing at them both.
With his Express roster complete, coach Franz Pumaren has a crystal clear idea on why his crew has failed to get off to the kind of start they wanted.
“Looking back on our first two games, we really need to make a big adjustment on our defense,” said Pumaren, whose team has scored an average of 87.5 points but gave up 101 in losses to Barako Bull and GlobalPort.
“We should be more assertive in limiting their production,” added Pumaren.
Meralco has basically the same concern.
“We need to close out games better. Against Rain or Shine we were a stop away,” said coach Ryan Gregorio, referring to his Bolts’ 89-94 loss to the Elasto Painters last Friday, when they blew an 89-87 lead in the last 34 seconds.
“We need to play more aggressively on defense in order to hit the winning column,” added Gregorio. “Air21 can score. They have proven it the past two games. We must come in with a solid defensive mentality. (There’s) no other way.”
That bid would be put in a very serious test as do-it-all forward Cliff Hodge will be sitting the game out due to the right ankle sprain he suffered against Rain or Shine.
The sophomore has been averaging 8.0 points and 9.0 rebounds along with 2.0 blocks for the Bolts and his absence would surely be felt.
“Injury to Cliff Hodge is critical for us. We must find ways to gang rebound and defend as a team to offset the loss of Cliff,” said Gregorio. (NC)
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