Co tiwalang makakapasok na sa semis ang Cardinals

MANILA, Philippines - Nanggaling ang Mapua Cardinals sa pinakamasama nilang kampanya noong nakaraang season ng NCAA basketball tournament sa itinalang 2-16 win-loss record.

At sa pagbubukas ng 90th season ng liga bukas sa Mall of Asia Arena sa Pasay City ay umaasa si head coach Atoy Co na malalampasan nila ang nasabing kartada.

“We’ll try to win more games, that’s all I can promise,” wika ni Co, ibabandera sina Joseph Eriobu, Andrew Estrella, Darrel Magsigay, Jessie Saitanan, Jeson Cantos at Carlo Isit para sa Cardinals.

Wala sa line-up ng Mapua ang mga key pla­yers na sina Kenneth Igha­lo, Andretti Stevens, Mark Brana at Josan Nimes, may MCL (medial collateral ligament) injury.

Ito sana ang magiging huling taon ni Nimes.

“Josan (Nimes) was supposed to play this year. In fact, he represented the team during the customary television shoot,” sabi ni Co. “After  that, he got injured so we were forced to remove his name out of the line up.”

Sa kabila nito ay mataas pa rin ang kumpiyansa ni Co sa mga bagitong sina dating Red Robins stars Justin Serrano at Ronnel Villasenor bukod pa kina Jerome Canaynay, Jobert Medina at Jomari Tubiano.

“If we want to succeed this year, the veteran guys and the younger ones will have to contribute on both ends,” sabi pa ni Co. “The older guys can’t do it alone so we will need all the help we can get.”

Nakatakdang labanan ng Cardinals ang Perpetual Altas, nakapasok sa Final Four noong 2012, sa Lunes para sa kanilang unang laro sa The Arena sa San Juan.