Blackwater eyes PBA solo lead against winless Converge
Games Wednesday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
4:30 p.m. — Blackwater vs Converge
7:30 p.m. — Meralco vs NLEX
WITH back-to-back reversals over heavyweights Meralco and TNT, Blackwater is definitely off to one of its strongest starts ever.
The challenge henceforth for the co-leading Bossing is how to sustain and follow this all the way through in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 48 Philippine Cup.
To give themselves a good shot at succeeding, coach Jeff Cariaso exhorted everyone to always be on “playoffs mode” on. “Every game for us, the approach is like it’s a playoff game. We know the intensity, focus and energy is different when it’s in the playoffs. It’s a level up so the ask of the staff to the players is to level up,” said Mr. Cariaso.
“That’s just where we are. We’re a young team, we’re still getting to know each other and we have to figure out ways to win while you’re figuring out your team.”
It’s imperative for the Bossing, 96-93 victors over the Bolts and 87-76 conquerors of the Tropang Giga, to maintain this approach especially when ranged against a very hungry opponent in Converge today.
The FiberXers are eager to get traction in the 4:30 p.m. encounter at the Smart Araneta Coliseum after losing a pair of heartbreakers to Terrafirma, 99-107, and NorthPort, 112-104 (overtime). “We are not taking them lightly. We can’t afford to do that. So feeling ko it’s going to be a good game. They will be hungry to win so we have to ready,” said Mr. Cariaso, whose team can grab the solo lead if successful against Converge.
Meanwhile, Meralco (1-1) and NLEX (1-1) clash at 7:30 p.m. to dispute Win No. 2.
The Bolts are out for a followup to their pull around 121-117 extra-time verdict over Rain or Shine last Saturday while the Road Warriors are bent on a rebound from their 95-99 defeat to Terrafirma last Sunday. — Olmin Leyba