COACH Myk Saguiguit is not one to get giddy even after Perpetual Help launched its campaign on a high.
The Altas try to prove their big win the last time out was no fluke when they tackle the San Sebastian College Golden Stags today in the 97th NCAA basketball tournament at the La Salle Green Hills Gym in Mandaluyong.
The curtain-raiser is set at 12 o’clock before Mapua University also seeks a share of the lead when it battles Jose Rizal University at 3 p.m.
Perpetual manhandled JRU 77-56 last Tuesday but Saguiguit downplayed his wards’ runaway triumph and maintained they remain as underdogs.
“Hindi kami malakas na team, kumbaga lahat dapat iyan pag-aralan. Dapat i-take talaga na parang championship kasi hindi ko nakikita na malakas iyong team ko,” Saguiguit said.
“Gusto lang din talaga nila maglaro kaya ganyan ang naipakita nila noong first game,” he added.
The Altas will pin their hopes on Kim Aurin, Jielo Razon, and Jef Egan in their bid to catch defending champion Letran and San Beda University on top with 2-0 records.
San Sebastian came off a sorry 63-65 loss to Arellano University last Sunday.
The likes of Itchie Altamirano, JM Calma, and Kenneth Villapando will be tasked to lead the Stags’ attack.
Cardinals strategist Randy Alcantara stressed the need for his players to defend better to make up for their lack in ceiling and bring their A-Game.
“Iyong defense namin (need to work on). Sa line-up namin, nakita mo naman, iyong gitna namin kailangan naming tumibay dahil lahat siguro malalaki ang kalaban namin.
Lumalabas na si Warren (Bonifacio) lang ang pinaka-center namin,” Alcantara said after Mapua held off Emilio Aguinaldo College 73-67 last Sunday.
“We have to treat every game as playoffs, parang kailangang kailangan talaga. So anuman ang mangyari sa resulta, ibigay ninyo lang ang best ninyo.”
The Cardinals will rely on Adrian Nocum, Brian Lacap, Warren Bonifacio, Paolo Hernandez, and Arvin Gamboa.
Raring to bounce back from a lopsided defeat, John Delos Santos, Jason Celis, Marwin Dionisio, and Darius Estrella will be counted upon by the Heavy Bombers.
