Dí‰Jí€ VU?
Coach Jerson Cabiltes of defending champion Nueva Ecija hopes so after his wards dropped a sorry 82-86 loss to San Juan three days ago in Game 1 of their best-of-3 semifinals showdown in the North division of the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season.
“Pinahaba lang namin ang series. Pinahaba lang namin,” Cabiltes said. “We didn’t finish strong. We committed a lot of fouls, and we gave up a lot of free throws that led to their comeback. As I’ve said, iyon nga ang nangyari. Individual defense and team defense.
“In the third quarter, we were in early penalty. We gave up 35 free throws, they converted 21. So, medyo mabigat iyon. Masyadong maraming free throws kaming ibinigay,” he added.
The Rice Vanguards also fell short in the opener of their North finals duel with the Knights last year but battled back and won the next two tiffs en route to the national title where they beat the Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines in four games.
The second match of the race-to-2 series is set this Friday, Nov. 3, at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City.
A deciding Game 3, if necessary, will be played on Nov. 6 at a venue still to be determined by the league.
Cabiltes is counting on his team’s defense to stymie the likes of Orlan Wamar Jr., Marwin Taywan, Nikko Panganiban, Michael Calisaan, Zach Huang, and Rence Nocum.
“We just have to stop them–Panganiban, Wamar, Nocum, Taywan, Calisaan, and Huang. It’s a team loaded with young players. You cannot say they’re young because they’re experienced already. They’re just at the peak of their careers right now.