CARNIVAL TO KEEP ON PUSHING
With Kia at an even 4-4, assistant coach Chito Victolero admitted that he is still positive about the Carnival’s fortunes in the 2015 PBA Governors’ Cup.
But if the squad wants to progress and possibly make its first quarterfinals appearance, they have to do it by locking in with their defense.
“Right now, we base our team on our defense. So if we play good defense, if we limit our opponents below 90, we have a big chance to win,” Victolero said.
That sense, Victolero said, was absent in Kia’s game against GlobalPort on Sunday, when the Carnival allowed the Batang Pier to score 102 points.
“We have taken pride on our defense, pero they scored 102 points so it’s really hard for us to win the game. Pero we’re positive pa rin. At least our chances are still in our hands, we just try to work hard and bounce back in our next games,” he said.
The Carnival’s fortunes are still in their hands. But getting to where they want to be will be no cakewalk. Rain or Shine, Talk ‘N Text, and Meralco are the final three games in their schedule, but Victolero sees the tough stretch as an opportunity for Kia to show its character.
“Mabigat pero we need those games in order for us to build our character and get the respect of the league. We need to have that mentality that we need to stay positive, stay tough sa laro,” he said.
And slowly, Victolero believes that the league is starting to give Kia the respect it badly seeks.
“Nakita naman natin na they prepare hard against us. Yun lang ang gusto namin. We need to play hard so we have a chance to win in the end,” he said. “We will not give up. This team will not give up until the end. We will keep on pushing until the end. Hangga’t may chance, we’ll keep on pushing.” (RL)
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