STAR, BARAKO BULL TRY TO FORTIFY TOP 4 BIDS
Star is making a late run to the playoffs, but recent wins still doesn’t relieve head coach Tim Cone from the stress.
“We’re still ‘kulelat’ and we have a tough road ahead of us,” said the Grand Slam-winning coach.
At 4-5, the Hotshots need to sweep its last two games to make it to the playoffs. And even have a shot at a twice-to-beat edge in the quarterfinals.
But they have to do it first against Barako Bull on Sunday in the 2015 PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Cone can take solace to the fact that the Star is picking up the slack after a lackluster start in the conference, highlighted by its 103-95 win over Talk ‘N Text last Tuesday.
“This team, whenever their backs are on the wall, whenever they need a crucial win, their focus is uncanny. They can really step up and focus,” he said.
And it might be of good timing for them, as the Energy are struggling at the end of the eliminations and are currently on a three-game losing skid after an all-time franchise best 6-1 start.
Though it’s already in the quarterfinals, Barako Bull (6-4) is in danger of falling out of the Top 4 and another defeat might just put it in the lower four of the playoffs.
Faltering in the end, Barako Bull surrendered a 120-98 defeat to Ginebra last Wednesday, and head coach Koy Banal must be up all week looking for answers to at least finish its elimination schedule on a good note. (RL)
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