NO SLOWING DOWN
The tightness of the schedule of games in the PLDT myDSL PBA Philippine Cup hardly gives the competing teams any room to relax.
One slowing down a bit may well impact on its momentum or competitive edge.
The Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings and the Talk n Text Tropang Texters are well aware of this that they promise to still come out strong in their duel at the close of the elimination round Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Kings look to sustain the momentum of their fiery run while the Tropang Texters seek to put the stoppage on their three-game skid as they clash at 5:15 p.m.
Ginebra clinched playoffs top seeding in nailing victory No. 11 versus GlobalPort on the same twinbill last Friday where the Talk n Text-San Mig Coffee best-of-three quarterfinals showdown was sealed following the Texters’ 87-100 loss to the Mixers.
“We’ve gained No. 1 ranking in the playoffs, pero kailangan pa rin pumukpok against Talk n Text. We have to continue building momentum,” said Ginebra coach Ato Agustin.
“Though we’re the No. 1 team, we still have things to work on. Susubukan namin mag-improve sa mga bagay na ito in our game against Talk n Text,” Agustin also said.
The Tropang Texters, on the other hand, definitely need to get back on the winning track and rebuild their confidence ahead of the post-elims play.
As they dropped their last three games and four of the last five, the Texters are to finish either fourth or fifth in the elimination round.
Regardless of the outcome of their last game against the Kings, the Texters play the Mixers in a best-of-three quarters series.
As the elims topnotcher, the Kings, meanwhile, enjoy a twice-to-beat advantage against their quarters opponent.
With a game left to play in the elimination round, the mighty Kings secured top finish as they smothered the GlobalPort Batang Pier, 108-92, Friday.
“We’re ready for this game. We got the rebounds, pushed the ball well, and played a good transition game. Even as GlobalPort kept on coming back, we didn’t panic. The team was really focused on the game,” said Agustin. (SB)
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