DESPITE advancing to the playoffs outright, Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda University coach Yuri Escueta maintained his troops’ mission is far from done.
“Hindi kaming puwedeng mag-relax kasi dito sa PBA D-League playoffs, tumataas ang laro so dapat makasabay kami doon,” Escueta said.
“We expect the games to be tougher. There’s no room to relax,” he added.
Ditto with assistant coach Gian Nazario of defending champion EcoOil-La Salle, who is convinced his team can only get better.
“We know that there will be ups and downs but it’s a chance for us to get better,” he said.
The Lions and the Green Archers clash with separate foes today as the semifinals of the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup kick off at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Eliminations pacesetter San Beda takes on Wangs Basketball @27-Striker-Letran in Game 1 of their best-of-3 semis duel in the curtain-raiser at 2 o’clock.
La Salle battles Perpetual Help also in the opener of their race-to-2 series at 4 p.m.
The Archers and Lions– with fresher legs after getting a week-long break on the strength of their direct Last Four entries– loom as favorites.
But the Knights and the Altas are out to give their foes a run for their money.
Letran nipped Centro Escolar University 94-87 in overtime, while Perpetual downed Philippine Sports Performance 97-90 last Tuesday to make good use of their twice-to-beat quarterfinals incentives.
“We’re very excited kasi San Beda makakalaban namin. They’re the No. 1 team at iyon ang nagmo-motivate sa amin. We need to stick on our defense na nagbibigay sa amin ng buhay at siyang kultura namin dito sa Letran,” Knights strategist Rensy Bajar said.
“We hope na maging maganda itong journey nmain sa first semis namin in D-League. Siyempre, La Salle is the defending champion so it’s gonna be a good series. Marami kaming matututunan dito. We’re gonna bring out our best,” Altas tactician Myk Saguiguit said.
