THIS scenario looks too familiar for fancied Marinerong Pilipino — a title in the bag.
“Ito naman talaga iyong goal namin,” Skippers coach Yong Garcia said. “Umabot na kami sa part na ito in the past and iyong mga players, gutom lahat iyan na kunin na itong laro para makuha na namin iyong unang championship para sa Marinero.”
But don’t expect EcoOil-La Salle to just lie down and die.
“We understand the importance of this game and the challenge is already there for the players,” Green Archers tactician Derrick Pumaren said. “We can’t let ourselves fall behind early and just play catch-up. We have to be at our A-game from the very start.”
Out to finally hit pay dirt, Marinerong Pilipino battles EcoOil-La Salle today in Game 2 of their best-of-3 finals showdown for the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup crown at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The match is set at noon, with the Skippers raring to wrap up the race-to-2 series and annex their maiden diadem since joining the developmental league in 2017.
Down but not out, the Archers are bidding to forge a knockout tiff for the season-opening tourney’s title.
A deciding Game 3, if necessary, will be on Sunday also at the Big Dome.
Marinerong Pilipino turned back EcoOil-La Salle 72-67 in Game 1 three days ago.
Conference MVP favorite Juan Gomez de Liaño is convinced the Skippers have what it takes this time.
“Ever since Marinero joined, they’ve never won the championship,” Gomez de Liaño said. “I believe this is our perfect chance to finally give them one and we’ll start from there and build history together.”
Apart from Gomez de Liaño, the likes of Jollo Go, Warren Bonifacio, Rence Nocum, and Arvin Gamboa are expected to carry the fight for Marinerong Pilipino.
Kevin Quiambao, CJ Austria, Michael Phillips, Evan Nelle, and Schonny Winston will be counted upon by the Taft-based cagers.