RDO HOPING FOR BETTER RESULT THIS TIME
It helps that a little less complication can help a team focus in the long run.
Talk ‘N Text’s 96-92 victory over Barangay Ginebra San Miguel on Sunday secured for the Tropang Texters the top spot in the 2014 PLDT Home Telpad PBA Governors’ Cup elims.
It also gets them out of a hole full of contenders, who are all awaiting their fates until all the tiebreakers are accounted for.
“Number one na naman kami tulad ng nakaraan kaya sana makarating ulit kami kung saan namin gusto – sa Finals,” said Ranidel de Ocampo moments after they closed out their eliminations with a bang. “Sana ngayon kung makarating man kami sa Finals, mas maganda na yung resulta.”
The Gilas gunslinger had 18 points and 10 rebounds in the outing, as Talk ‘N Text set a quarterfinals date with Barako Bull on Tuesday.
Curiously, the Energy beat the Tropa, 88-74, in their eliminations game last June 10.
But de Ocampo said that knowing their opponent doesn’t really pack much of an edge, saying, “Wala namang advantage yun kasi sanay naman yung teams na naghihintay ng kalaban at di mo alam kung sino makakatapat mo. Yun naman yung trabaho ng coaches na pag-aralan yung biglang laban. Dapat may nakahanda nang game plan.”
Talk ‘N Text’s all-around effort in the Ginebra game also quashed assumptions that the team will just go easy on the Kings in its final assignment.
“Mas maganda yung matapos yung eliminations ng panalo. Siguro kaya ganun yung laro namin against Ginebra kahit walang masyadong bearing at assured na kami sa twice-to-beat,” de Ocampo said. “Iba pa rin yung natapos ka on a winning note. Madadala mo yun sa mga susunod mong laban sa playoffs.”
“Importante din yung makipag-compete ka sa Ginebra kasi iba yung Ginebra eh. Kahit na matagal na silang di nag-champion, champion team pa rin yan. Kailangang irespeto. Tsaka iba na yung tinatakbo nila, mas disiplinado na sila sa laro nila. Ok na rin na natapos yung laro na parehong lumaban.” (RL)
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