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Unbeaten Aces play dangerous Realtors
By: Zean Macamay, Journal Online
OF all the teams in the PBA, Sta. Lucia Realty casts worries on coach Tim Cone the most.
“They (Realtors) are our kontra-pelo,” said Cone.
The winningest coach in league history in terms of games won yesterday took the deep breath before the plunge, trying to
relax by playing nine rounds of golf and a set of tennis before heading to Alaska’s workout, applying the final touches in their
preparations against the team they had met in the semi-finals of the last two Philippine Cups.
“Sta. Lucia is such a tough opponent for us,” said Cone on his Twitter account. “Preparation is always the key. The more
prepared you are, the more confident you are in meeting the task at hand.”
Alaska remains the only undefeated team at 4-0 (win-loss), and it hopes to remain so when it collides with Sta. Lucia tonight
at the resumption of the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
In the opening game, San Miguel seeks to book its third straight win after a 0-2 start, taking on winless Rain or Shine.
The Aces will go into their 7:30 p.m. game fresh after a 10-day break, having defeated Ginebra 105-96 last Oct. 25. Yet, that
stretch wasn’t all about rest. The players were given only two days of vacation before reporting back for practice.
For sure, this will be the game Cone would want to win to ascertain his team’s toughness.
“Sta. Lucia always brings great discipline and defensive intensity to their games, a credit to coach Boyet (Fernandez),” said
Cone. “With their trades, they have more quickness this year which we will have to overcome.”
The Realtors have only been beaten once so far, a lopsided 100-83 loss to Talk ‘N Text last Oct. 25. But they have somehow
made up for that embarrassing defeat already, returning five days after and blasting their way to a 101-93 victory over Burger
King.
While coming off a big win, Fernandez knows the formidable mission up ahead, especially against the team that left a
memory on him before the season-opening tournament even began.
“Alaska beat us easily in our tune-up game,” said Fernandez. “We know what they can do, we just have to stay disciplined in
our execution and have a solid defensive game if we want to get our fourth win.”
The Aces and the Realtors somehow have been building a rivalry. In 2007, the Realtors beat the Aces in the Final Four
before winning their first all-Filipino championship. Then in 2008, Alaska bounced back, dethroning Sta. Lucia but failing to
beat Talk ‘N Text in the Finals that went into seven games.
“We’ve met this team in the semis of the last two Philippine Cups, so we know each other well,” said Cone.
The Beermen, on the other hand, will be trying to extend the Elasto Painters’ woes when they shoot for win No. 3.
San Miguel just had a morale-boosting win against defending champion Talk ‘N Text last Oct. 28, hanging on for a 100-90
victory. Coach Siot Tanquingcen, however, doesn’t want to count the possibility of Rain or Shine playing way above its
customary level.
“They (Painters) have the talent no doubt to be one of the top teams, so they are very dangerous,” said Tanquingcen. “We
have to stay focused and make sure we compete on every possession.”
By: Zean Macamay, Journal Online
OF all the teams in the PBA, Sta. Lucia Realty casts worries on coach Tim Cone the most.
“They (Realtors) are our kontra-pelo,” said Cone.
The winningest coach in league history in terms of games won yesterday took the deep breath before the plunge, trying to
relax by playing nine rounds of golf and a set of tennis before heading to Alaska’s workout, applying the final touches in their
preparations against the team they had met in the semi-finals of the last two Philippine Cups.
“Sta. Lucia is such a tough opponent for us,” said Cone on his Twitter account. “Preparation is always the key. The more
prepared you are, the more confident you are in meeting the task at hand.”
Alaska remains the only undefeated team at 4-0 (win-loss), and it hopes to remain so when it collides with Sta. Lucia tonight
at the resumption of the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
In the opening game, San Miguel seeks to book its third straight win after a 0-2 start, taking on winless Rain or Shine.
The Aces will go into their 7:30 p.m. game fresh after a 10-day break, having defeated Ginebra 105-96 last Oct. 25. Yet, that
stretch wasn’t all about rest. The players were given only two days of vacation before reporting back for practice.
For sure, this will be the game Cone would want to win to ascertain his team’s toughness.
“Sta. Lucia always brings great discipline and defensive intensity to their games, a credit to coach Boyet (Fernandez),” said
Cone. “With their trades, they have more quickness this year which we will have to overcome.”
The Realtors have only been beaten once so far, a lopsided 100-83 loss to Talk ‘N Text last Oct. 25. But they have somehow
made up for that embarrassing defeat already, returning five days after and blasting their way to a 101-93 victory over Burger
King.
While coming off a big win, Fernandez knows the formidable mission up ahead, especially against the team that left a
memory on him before the season-opening tournament even began.
“Alaska beat us easily in our tune-up game,” said Fernandez. “We know what they can do, we just have to stay disciplined in
our execution and have a solid defensive game if we want to get our fourth win.”
The Aces and the Realtors somehow have been building a rivalry. In 2007, the Realtors beat the Aces in the Final Four
before winning their first all-Filipino championship. Then in 2008, Alaska bounced back, dethroning Sta. Lucia but failing to
beat Talk ‘N Text in the Finals that went into seven games.
“We’ve met this team in the semis of the last two Philippine Cups, so we know each other well,” said Cone.
The Beermen, on the other hand, will be trying to extend the Elasto Painters’ woes when they shoot for win No. 3.
San Miguel just had a morale-boosting win against defending champion Talk ‘N Text last Oct. 28, hanging on for a 100-90
victory. Coach Siot Tanquingcen, however, doesn’t want to count the possibility of Rain or Shine playing way above its
customary level.
“They (Painters) have the talent no doubt to be one of the top teams, so they are very dangerous,” said Tanquingcen. “We
have to stay focused and make sure we compete on every possession.”