BRAND NEW BALLGAME
All bets are off when Ginebra and Talk ‘N Text square for their knockout match on Tuesday, with the winner advancing to the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals to face San Miguel Beer.
Ginebra coach Jeffrey Cariaso acknowledges that they’ll be up against a very much different and improved Tropang Texters squad.
“We’re gonna see a really, really good team come Tuesday,” he said.
The Kings were never really threatened by Talk ‘N Text when the two teams faced off in the eliminations, with Ginebra scoring a 101-81 rout on opening day at the Philippine Arena.
But Cariaso believes that a lot has changed in the two months since they last went to battle.
“They’re a very much different team than those we faced at the Philippine Arena. They’ve blended well, they have some good young guys in (Matt) Ganuelas-Rosser and (Kevin) Alas, and they also have the veterans who know how to win and have been together for a long time. It’s really going to be tough facing them,” Cariaso said.
However, that does not mean that the Kings have not made some strides of their own.
“I like the way my boys have been practicing. I like that the guys have been really just focusing in this last week. Through the ups and downs of this conference, it’s a roller coaster ride pretty much,” the youthful Ginebra mentor said.
“We learned a lot so far, we’re still trying to improve. And we know we can’t bring no less than our A-game against Talk ‘N Text. They’re gonna be tough to beat.”
Cariaso added, “I like our chances because we’re also there. Hopefully it comes down to the last two minutes and we give each other a chance to win.” (RL)
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