THIS could be the Last Waltz, unless BRT Sumisip Basilan-St. Clare comes up with an answer to Marinerong Pilipino’s firepower.
The Skippers go for the jugular when they tackle the Saints today in Game 2 of their best-of-3 titular showdown for the PBA D-League Foundation Cup crown at The Astrodome.
The match is set at 1 p.m., with Marinerong Pilipino bidding to become only the second team in D-League history to bag the title unbeaten after NLEX did the trick twice in the 2012 and 2014 Foundation Cups.
If St. Clare manages to forge a winner-take-all duel, it will be held next Thursday at the Paco Arena in Manila.
The Skippers turned back the Saints 69-59 in the series opener last Oct. 3.
St. Clare coach Stevenson Tiu remains unfazed despite his charges’ must-win situation — for good reason.
The Saints charged back from a 19-point hole and pulled to within 57-64 but fell short in the endgame.
“If we play that kind of game defensively the whole game, may chance kami manalo,” said Tiu.
“Let’s see, hopefully maka-isa sa Game 2,” he added.
Six-foot-6 Malian reinforcement Mohamed Pare, Jhaps Bautista, Joshua Fontanilla, Junjie Hallare, Alfred Batino and Hessed Gabo will be counted upon by BRT Sumisip Basilan-St. Clare
Skippers strategist Yong Garcia insisted the battle is far from over, especially if they will show up complacently.
“Iyon ang nagiging problema namin before (complacency) and lumabas na naman,” said Garcia.
“Hopefully, ma-correct namin para sa Game 2 hindi kami parang roller-coaster ulit.”
