MANILA, Philippines - Aminado si Philippine Patriots coach Louie Alas na marami pa silang dapat gawin para mapaganda ang kanilang depensa para sa hinahangad na pagkopo sa AirAsia ASEAN Basketball League Season 2.
Tinalo ng Patriots, pinamahalaan nina Harbour Centre big boss Mikee Romero at business tycoon Tony Boy Cojuangco, ang Brunei Barracudas, 71-62, noong Linggo sa Yñares Sports Arena sa Pasig City.
Subalit hindi ito impresibo para kay Alas.
“We can do a lot better if we’ll play several notches higher defensively,” wika ni Alas. “If we play that way in our next game, I’m very sure ‘may paglalagyan kami’”.
Napansin rin ni Romero ang kaluwagan sa depensa ng Patriots.
Ngunit kumpiyansa naman ang team owner sa kanyang coaching staff, kinabibilangan rin ni Far Eastern University coach Glenn Capacio.
“Hindi pa gelled ang team, so we have to plug the holes. The good thing is, it’s a five-month long tournament so we have enough time to make some adjustments defensively,” wika ni Romero. “Little (Donald) must work hard in the shaded lane and Johnson (Anthony) has to be vocal.”
“They have to improve their defensive alignment,” dagdag pa nito.
Sa naturang panalo kontra Barracudas, umiskor si Johnson ng 23 points, habang tumulong naman sa opensa sina Chito Jaime, Allen Malicsi, Jun-Jun Cabahug at Erwin Sta. Maria.
Nakatakdang sagupain ng Patriots ang Singapore Slingers, ibabandera sina ex-pros Al Vergara at Leo Avenido, sa Sabado sa Yñares Sports Arena.
“Our game against the Slingers will be an acid test to us,” wika ni team manager Erick Arejola. “Their locals have improved tremendously and they have good imports, too.”
Tinalo ng Slingers ang runner-up Satria Muda BritAma ng Indonesia, 94-93.