By Ivan Saldajeno
Despite a 90-73 rout, interim FEU coach Eric Gonzales admitted that he made a mistake in the first half of the team's UAAP game against Adamson that favored the latter.
"Nag-gamble ako noong first half," said Gonzales, who took over Nash Racela as the Tamaraws' coach while the latter is in Seville, Spain for the FIBA World Cup.
The gamble, according to Gonzales, added motivation for the Soaring Falcons to play inspired basketball in the first half. "Nabigyan namin ng confidence yung kalaban," he added.
The Soaring Falcons raced to a 15-3 lead at the beginning of the match and were still ahead at the half, 44-40, before the Tamaraws controlled the second half.
Now assured of a Final Four seat, Gonzales now looks at the real goal. "Yun talaga ang goal ng team, yung Top 2," he said, pertaining to the twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinals.
With that, he vowed that the Tamaraws will play near-perfect basketball against the UE Red Warriors on Sunday. "Bawal kaming matisod," he further said.
He added, "May [Roi] Sumang o wala, kung paano kami naglaro ng fourth quarter, ganun pa rin," pertaining to how UE stunned NU despite the star point guard not playing a single second in that game.
Racela will return to the FEU bench against the Red Warriors on Sunday. He and the rest of Gilas Pilipinas are battling Puerto Rico as of press time.
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