LOOKING TO SURPASS PREVIOUS SLATE
Equaling their win total from last conference this early, GlobalPort coach Pido Jarencio has set modest goals for his Batang Pier squad.
After a forgettable 1-8 campaign in the Commissioner’s Cup, “The Fireman” now shifts his focus to battle another fiery coach in the opposing end of the sideline – coach Yeng Guiao – as GlobalPort and Rain or Shine cross paths on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Batang Pier shoot for their first back-to-back wins under Jarencio’s radar, while Guiao eyes a first win after dropping their initial two outings in the 2014 PLDT Home Telpad PBA Governors’ Cup. Tip off is at 3 p.m.
Fresh from a nail-biting 95-91 win over Alaska last Friday, GlobalPort has achieved what it could not do for nine games in the last tourney, and hopes that its breakthrough victory would serve as a sign for the squad to move out of the cellar.
“Good start ‘to para sa amin,” Jarencio said. “At least, tied na kami ng last conference. May isang panalo na, at pero meron pang seven games.”
GlobalPort was energized by the return of scoring rookie Terrence Romeo from a back injury, as last season’s UAAP MVP tallied 18 points.
In contrast, the E-Painters are aching for their first W of the short conference after getting bullied down low by June Mar Fajardo and the rest of San Miguel Beer, 97-92, last Friday, dropping them to a 0-2 slate.
Though still winless after two tough games against Air21 and the Beermen, Guiao quashed talks of the squad already pressing the panic button this early.
“We’re not panicking and we’re not discouraged. There are seven games left and we’ll try to get to the top four.”
“If we can’t go to the top four, we’ll avoid getting eliminated and if we’re not able to make the top four, with this team, I think we could beat any other team we’re playing twice. We’ll do our best. Wherever we are, as long as we’re not eliminated, we’re ok,” the amiable Kapampangan bench tactician said, who is already looking ahead to the quarterfinal implications of the tournament.
Both teams will just have a day’s rest, but Guiao believed that fatigue will not be a factor once both teams take the floor on Sunday.
“I don’t think na it’s gonna be a fatigue issue for us,” he said. “We’re not tired. We’re ok.” (RL)
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