NOT A TIME TO RELAX
Though assured of a spot in the Top Four, the Petron Blaze Boosters won’t relax and drop their competitive edge.
“We’ll continue to compete. We’ll continue to learn. We’ll continue to grow,” said Petron coach Gie Abanilla on the eve of their penultimate game in the PBA Governors’ Cup elimination round versus Alaska at the Philsports Arena Friday.
The Boosters assured themselves of a spot in the Top Four at the end of the short elims phase as they roared past the Talk n Text Tropang Texters, 122-88, Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Aces themselves don’t expect to catch the Boosters napping even if they’re already guaranteed of a twice-to-beat bonus in the quarterfinals.
Alaska coach Luigi Trillo said they would work to get their desired result – a win that will breathe life on their own Top Four aspirations.
The Aces, the Commissioner’s Cup champs, are tottering in the middle of the pack after dropping two of their last three games.
The Boosters, on the other hand, have distanced themselves further from the field with a sixth straight win scored against the skidding Texters.
“We just want to try to keep grounded. Learn what we still have to learn. I think right now we could experiment on things we want to do offensively and defensively. I think that’s one luxury that we have right now,” said Abanilla.
The youthful Petron coach, however, stressed they will continue to compete.
The Boosters were at their best in their 34-point conquest of the Texters – the most lopsided match in the tourney in recent memory.
The Aces, meanwhile, were at their worst the last time out versus the San Mig Coffee Mixers.
Everything went wrong in a stretch of nearly seven minutes for Alaska Milk, and San Mig Coffee pounced on the situation, breaking away en route to a 95-82 rout.
The Aces may need to sweep their last three games if they’re to get a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarters.
Their last two games are against the Barako Bull Energy and the Air21 Express. (SB)
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