BLACKWATER is off to a fine start in the season-ending tourney, but Bossing coach Jeffrey Cariaso is not one to let his charges fall into the traps of complacency. Not even against a winless Converge side.
“Nothing has changed. Right now, we are just starting, too early to tell,” Cariaso said. “We are still in the process of learning about each other, iyong chemistry namin puwede pang mag-improve.
“But we all understand completely that we have to do and give our best each and every game,” he added.
The Bossing seek to extend their winning run to three and gain the early solo lead when they take on the FiberXers today in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The game time is set at 4:30 p.m., with Blackwater riding on two straight wins, counting a surprising 87-76 triumph over TNT three days back.
Meralco eyes win No. 2 when it faces NLEX in the nightcap at 7:30.
Cariaso maintained they cannot afford to look past the FiberXers, who are coming off a sorry 104-112 overtime loss to the NorthPort Batang Pier last Sunday.
“Honestly, nalamangan lang sila ng malaki agad noong first game nila pero humabol sila so may tsansa na manalo. Last game, dapat panalo sila. They could easily have been 2-0,” Cariaso said. “We are not taking them lightly. We can’t afford to do that.
“So, feeling ko it’s going to be a good game. They will be hungry to win so kailangan maging ready kami. Hindi kami puwedeng maging complacent.”
The likes of Rey Nambatac, Troy Rosario, RK Ilagan, and Christian David will be counted upon by Blackwater to deliver.
Converge will mainly pin its hopes on the guard and center duo of Alec Stockton and Justin Arana–something that keeps Cariaso on his toes.
“Iyong big guns nila ngayon, si Arana at Stockton, sila ang magiging focal point namin, how to defend them,” he said. “I think marami silang other players who are capable of giving good numbers. Some are young, but good players.
“So, ang message ko sa team is to make sure we come into the game respecting everyone. Lahat sila are good players and we expect na magiging maganda laro.”
The Bolts held off the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters 121-117 in OT last Saturday for their maiden win.
Allein Maliksi, Cliff Hodge, Chris Newsome, Bong Quinto, and Aaron Black are expected to show the way for Meralco in its attempt to improve its 1-1 mark.
The Road Warriors, who slipped to 1-1 after a 95-99 setback to the Terrafirma Dyip three nights ago, will rely on Robert Bolick and Jhan Nermal.
