Coach Joel Banal knows that the trek to the finals would be much tougher as he instructed his wards to double their efforts against Blu Detergent today in the semifinals of the 2002 PBL Chairman’s Cup at the Makati Coliseum.
The 5 p.m. match is crucial since a loss by the Blue Eagles will install the Detergent Kings on top of the five-team, carry-over semifinals.
Kutitap Toothpaste also seeks its second semifinal win against Shark Energy Drink at 3.
"It’s really harder maintaining the No. 1 spot. To be No. 1 should not be a one-day prestige. We’ll try to stay there and work hard to win as many games until we’re sure of a finals berth," said Banal.
"Blu won over us in the second meeting and is fresh from a 73-67 victory over Shark. That makes them a dangerous rival. We’ll try to adjust to every situation and play our hearts out to win this match," he added.
He was right. Ateneo prevailed, 58-48, in the first round encounter last April 12 but Blu got back via a 91-88 triumph last May 3.
Likewise, the Detergent Kings are on a winning roll from a disheartening 2-4 start as they won their next five games to gain a share of second place with ICTSI-La Salle after the eliminations.
"Maganda ang samahan ngayon ng team. The second unit is stepping up and we’re hoping we could extend our streak to six," said Blu coach Leo Isaac.
MVP race leader Enrico Villanueva will be the main target of Blu’s defense. That’s why Banal tapped Val Domingo and Rich Alvarez to back him up off the boards together with the support of three-point shooters Magnum Membrere, Celino Cruz and Wesley Gonzales.
Isaac hopes Marlon Legaspi could maintain the intensity he’d shown in the past three games together with Mel Latoreno, Arnold Calo, Lou Gatumbato and the hardworking Aries Dimaunahan.
Shark, on the other hand, will try to bounce back from a dismal setback to Blu and stay in contention for the 5-of-8 incentive.
But Kutitap beat the rivals twice in the elimination round. The Teeth Sparklers upstaged the Power Boosters, 69-73, last April 5 and reasserted its victory, 76-68, last May 13.
"Sana nga makabangon kami. I guess the boys played overconfident against Blu dahil tinammbakan nila ito sa first meeting. It was a big lesson learned and now they knew na mas matindi ang laban sa semis," offered Shark coach Leo Austria.