STUNG the last time out, Marinerong Pilipino coach Yong Garcia wants nothing from his wards but to regroup against a formidable Adalem Construction-St. Clare side.
“Masakit iyong pagkatalo para sa amin,” Garcia said after his team absorbed a 64-70 loss to Wangs Basketball @26-Letran last Friday. “Pero lesson sa amin iyon na sa simula pa lang, hindi kami dapat magpalubog ng malaki.”
The Skippers try to bounce back when they battle the Saints today in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
The match is set at 3 p.m. after Apex Fuel-San Sebastian seeks a second straight win when it clashes with winless AMA Online at 1 o’clock.
Centro Escolar University takes on Builders Warehouse-University of Santo Tomas in the curtain-raiser at 11 a.m.
Carrying a 2-1 record in a tie with Adalem Construction-St. Clare, Marinerong Pilipino will lean on Juan Gomez de Liaño, Jollo Go, and Kemark Cariño.
But the Saints, boosted by an 84-50 dismantling of the Kings five days ago, are equally determined to stretch their winning run to three, according to strategist Jiniño Manansala.
“Expect ko iyong full line-up namin sa game na iyon kasi importante para sa amin iyan kung gusto namin makaabot sa top four,” Manansala said.