Mapua to retain style of play amidst ‘dirty tactics’ charge

MANILA, Philippines -- Not even allegations of employing dirty tactics will force the Mapua Cardinals to change their physical brand of play.

In an interview with philstar.com, Mapua head coach Atoy Co once again gave his thoughts on San Beda mentor Boyet Fernandez’s claim that the Cardinals deliberately hurt the Lions during their 78-53 win last Monday at The Arena.

At first, Co downplayed the issue, pointing out that getting physical is part of the game. But he was eventually forced to react after Fernandez also pointed Co’s deputies Ed Cordero and Bonnie Garcia as among those who instructed the Cardinals to go dirty on their opponents.

“Noong una, binalewala ko lang yung sinabi niya (Fernandez) kasi part of the game lang at baka naging emotional lang siya at that time. Pero tumagal-tagal, dumami na yung mga issue na lumabas  na din yung mga nakaraan nila coach Ed and Coach Bonnie between them and their other players, na meron daw konting gusot noon,” Co told philstar.com.

Vowing to speak on the issue for the last time, Co said he doesn’t have qualms against Fernandez. He then went on to defend his assistant coaches.

“For me I don’t have any issue with Coach Boyet. He’s the one saying or accusing us that my coaches are instructing our players to hurt their players and definitely hindi totoo yun and kilala ko yung pagkatao ng mga assistant coaches ko, and they will never do that,” the rookie mentor added.

The incident, Co said, won’t affect his team’s style of play.

“No, walang magbabago kasi wala naman kaming masama na ginagawa. We are teaching our players the right way of playing the game of basketball,” he said.

The Cardinals are dwelling on the cellars of the 89th NCAA men’s basketball tournament with a 1-5 win-loss card. They lost Monday night to the Perpetual Altas, 73-68, in their latest setback to date.

But Co remains optimistic, saying their time to shine will eventually come.

“We have been playing well sometimes and at least twice we fought back from double-digit deficits. Kinukulang lang kami minsan dahil nga medyo mga bata pa ang mga players natin pero slowly but surely, we’re improving every game,” he assured.

The PBA Hall of Famer said he is out to improve Mapua’s fate in the NCAA.

“Friends ask me why I accepted the job, but I think my real purpose here coaching in Mapua is because I want to try improve the program of Mapua. As a former Cardinal, I’m sad every time Mapua doesn't make it to the Final Four. I want to help in any way for the team I don’t know yet but I will do my best to build this program. But I think with the kind of team we have, despite the young team we have, we are playing above the expectations for our team,” he said.

Finally, Co appealed to fans for their patience, assuring them his commitment to Mapua’s basketball program.

“To the Mapua community, I hope you can be patient with us, because as the saying goes, Rome is not built in one day. It will really take time. I still have to improve the skills of our players, but I promise that we will always be there fighting and playing 100 percent every game,” he ended.