BLOODIED but unbowed.
College of St. Benilde coach Charles Tiu maintained his team is determined to stay alive against Mapua University in the Bog Dance.
“I think we’ll be ready. We know what we’re supposed to do. We just didn’t do a good job of doing it,” Tiu said. “So, we just want to make sure we stay focused and don’t let the big moment get to the players because.
“That’s really what’s probably the problem for us,” he added.
Whether Tiu’s Blazers can redeem themselves will be known when they collide with the Cardinals tomorrow, Saturday, in Game 2 of their best-of-3 finals battle for the 100th NCAA basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Game time is set for 2:30 p.m. with Mapua seeking to finish off CSB and end a 33-year title dry spell.
But the Blazers are also eager to force sudden death on Dec. 14 also at the Big Dome.
“Sobrang aggressive talaga namin dapat coming into Game 1 kasi iyon iyong nagpapanalo sa amin noong second half nung last game namin back in the eliminations na down kami ng 20,” Cards star and reigning MVP Clint Escamis said. “So, iyon talaga iyong kailangan namin kasi, lagi ini-instill nila coach na defense wins championships talaga. So, iyon iyong nasa utak namin, doon nangagaling iyong offense namin.”
Mapua clobbered CSB 84-73 in Game 1 last Sunday.
The Intramuros-based crew last won the NCAA title back in 1991 in the league’s 67th season where Cards’ present strategist Randy Alcantara still playing for the squad.
The Blazers will be fighting for dear lives with big man Allen Liwag, guard Tony Ynot and forward Mark Sangco expected to step up.
CSB won its only crown in 2000 during the era of Blazers legends Sunday Salvacion and Jondan Salvador.
