DEFENDING two-time champion EcoOil-La Salle is favored to hurdle Keanzel Basketball but Green Archers assistant coach Caloy Garcia is not one to tell his wards to look past their foes.
“When we join leagues, you always prepare for every game,” Garcia said. “It does not matter who you play. Iyon ang sinasabi sa amin lagi ni coach Topex (Robinson), prepare for every game.
“Matagal pa ito, we have more games and you’re starting to look out for other teams,” he added.
EcoOil-La Salle’s resolve will be tested anew when it takes on Keanzel Basketball today in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
The match is set at 7:30 p.m., with the Archers gunning for a fourth straight win that will boost their bid for a semifinals slot in the six-team field.
Centro Escolar U (1-1), coming off a 126-91 breakthrough win against Keanzel last week, tests the mettle of Go Torakku-St. Clare in the curtain-raiser at 4:30, hoping to make it two in a row to wheel back into contention for a top two spot.
But the spotlight will be on EcoOil-La Salle, needing an all-important win before it clashes with Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda University Thursday next week.
The Scorpions are also not taking Go Tarakku-St. Clare for granted.
“I trust my players that they will step up in the coming games. We just need to stay composed on both ends,” CEU tactician Jeff Perlas said. “We have to execute well on offense and defense.”
Go-Torakku-St Clare (0-2) and Keanzel (0-3) are the only winless teams in the meet.
