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| Mark Cristino/UFL (file photo) |
By Ivan Saldajeno
MANILA--Green Archers may have already won five straight UFL matches including the 3-0 forfeiture result automatically given to the nine remaining Division 1 squads following Army's move to leave the league midway through.
But Coach Rodolfo Alicante expressed concern about sustaining the currently sixth-placed club's hot run as it is left with four of the Top 5 teams in its league schedule, beginning with a "La Sallian Derby" encounter with first-ranked Ceres on Wednesday night at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
"Maganda yung feeling na sunud-sunod na yung [mga panalo] namin, pero we expect that the last four games are tough games. Kasi ito yung apat na teams na nasa top--Ceres, Meralco (Loyola), Global, and Stallion. So kailangan naming mag-prepare dito," Alicante told the press about his sentiments on GAU's streak.
The soft-spoken mentor, who at the beginning of the second round projected a Top 4 finish for his club, actually bared that because of the winning streak, he amended his outlook and is now aiming for second place.
"Sabi ko nga sa kanila, 'Kung talagang ibigay sa atin [ng Diyos], kung manalo sa mga games namin, may chance kami for second place,'" Alicante continued.
In spite of the new goal, he expressed awareness of GAU's upcoming fixtures.
"Medyo malaki ang trabaho dahil malalakas ang mga teams na haharapin namin," Alicante said his wariness.
Green Archers and Ceres will collide in the nightcap of the UFL doubleheader at 7:45 p.m., right after Global and Socceroo clash in the 5:15 p.m. curtain-raiser.
GAU actually kept its slim hopes of stealing the title from Ceres alive following the latter's 2-2 draw to Global on Sunday night.
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