Despite blowout, Aldrin Morante says Talisay still has room for defensive improvement

Talisay played solid defense on Tubigon, but Coach Aldrin Morante believes the Aquastars can still do more. Chooks-To-Go Pilipinas/Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--By the looks of it, Talisay played a near flawless game in its Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup opener against Tubigon.

On Friday night at the Alcantara Civic Center, the Aquastars blasted the Mariners, 104-66, in the inaugural game of the first professional basketball league for Visayas and Mindanao.

[Related Story: Talisay bludgeons Tubigon in Super Cup opener]

However, despite holding Tubigon to only 38 percent shooting on top of seven blocks, outrebounding them, 55-36, and forcing them to 16 turnovers, nine off steals, Talisay coach Aldrin Morante said that his team still needs some more work on defense especially in the early game.

"Maraming lapses sa defense. Sa first period, marami silang fastbreak points and yung big men nila nakaka-score sa low post," Morante said after the game.

The Mariners actually kept in step with the Aquastars early on, even taking the lead twice within the first three minutes of the game.

After a timeout midway through the first, Talisay finally settled in defensively and eventually stomped their dominance over Tubigon.

For their part, the Aquastars shot 50 percent from the field and assisted on 29 of 41 made field goals while only committing nine turnovers, three in the second half.

"Yung opensa namin, naging maayos kasi maganda yung depensa namin," Morante continued.

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