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| PBA (file photo) |
By Ivan Saldajeno
MANILA--Cignal looks to sweep the best-of-three PBA D-League Foundation Cup Finals as it takes on CEU again in Game 2 on Thursday night at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Fresh from a 78-56 rout in Game 1 on Tuesday night, the Hawkeyes will now try to finish off the Scorpions in their 5 p.m. rematch and become only the third team to sweep the season championship-wise, but Coach Boyet Fernandez is expecting another tough grind.
“It will be tough, but winning Game 1 is a good motivation for us going for Game 2,” said Fernandez, who can clinch an unprecedented eighth D-League title on Thursday night.
In fact, he is wary that the UCBL squad will once again pull a major shocker by taking the next two games just like how it dealt Flying V a shock semifinal exit.
“It’s not yet over until it’s over. I have lot of respect for Coach Yong [Garcia] and I’m sure they'll find a way. This is a team capable of coming back and if you give them that chance then we have a problem,” Fernandez further said.
Garcia, meanwhile, says that he keeps on motivating his players as his team's back is now against the wall.
“I’m always pushing my players na ibigay pa rin nila ang best nila at makipag-compete. Yun ang importante kasi minsan lang ito mangyari na aabot kami ng championship. Sinasabi ko lang, ibigay nila ang best nila para sa career nila,” he said.
Prior to tip-off, the league will name the PBA D-League Foundation Cup MVP.
Flying V's Jeron Teng, Cignal's Jason Perkins and Toto Jose, and CEU's Aaron Jeruta and Orlan Wamar loom as the likeliest to win the said individual plum.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
In fact, he is wary that the UCBL squad will once again pull a major shocker by taking the next two games just like how it dealt Flying V a shock semifinal exit.
“It’s not yet over until it’s over. I have lot of respect for Coach Yong [Garcia] and I’m sure they'll find a way. This is a team capable of coming back and if you give them that chance then we have a problem,” Fernandez further said.
Garcia, meanwhile, says that he keeps on motivating his players as his team's back is now against the wall.
“I’m always pushing my players na ibigay pa rin nila ang best nila at makipag-compete. Yun ang importante kasi minsan lang ito mangyari na aabot kami ng championship. Sinasabi ko lang, ibigay nila ang best nila para sa career nila,” he said.
Prior to tip-off, the league will name the PBA D-League Foundation Cup MVP.
Flying V's Jeron Teng, Cignal's Jason Perkins and Toto Jose, and CEU's Aaron Jeruta and Orlan Wamar loom as the likeliest to win the said individual plum.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
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