CAN red-hot Nueva Ecija hack it despite some of its players unlikely to suit up?
That will be known when the Capitals seek to stretch their winning run to seven against the Novaliches QC Warriors tonight in the Pilipinas Super League President’s Cup at The Arena in San Juan.
“We’re gonna prepare for them. Baka kulang ang players in our game so we just have to be ready,” Nueva Ecija coach Jerson Cabiltes said on the eve of their 8 p.m. game.
“May prior schedules na iyong players kasi initially we were not sure if we’re going to join this league,” he added.
The Capitals, also known as the Rice Vanguards in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League of amiable businessman-sportsman Bong Cuevas, will go into battle armed with a 100-85 shellacking of the CV Siniloan Daruma Dragons Thursday last week.
Cabiltes said his constant reminder to his charges is not to fall into the traps of complacency in the tourney spearheaded by PBA great Allan Caidic as Commissioner.
“Minsan kasi sa MPBL sa sobrang haba ng liga mataas ang energy mo at the start of the tournament and pagdating ng middle, bababa iyan, aakyat ulit kapag papunta na ng playoffs,” he said.
“It’s (PSL) a shorter league pero still marami ring tough opponents so we just have to be in shape and be ready so iyong intensity mo hindi dapat bumaba.”
Foremost among those expected to show the way for Nueva Ecija are veterans Jay Collado, Michael Mabulac, Emman Calo, former PBA players Roi Sumang and Robby Celiz, and young guns Ralph Robin and Nat Cosejo.
“Iyon nga ang laging sinasabi sa akin ni coach. Isa ako sa mga beterano kaya kailangan i-lead ko iyong team, lalo na maraming bata kami na kinuha,” Collado said. “So, kailangan maging example ako sa ensayo sa team.
