MANILA, Philippines - Though winning games with Cliff Brown, the B-Meg Derby Ace Llamados remain in search of a better import in their determined bid to go for a possible season sweep.
Coach Ryan Gregorio ruled out a new import when they play the Rain or Shine Painters on Friday but hinted at an import change later on.
“Cliff Brown went only 4-of-17 from the field (against San Miguel Sunday). Definitely, we need more help from our import specially with Kerby Raymundo out (with an injury),” said Gregorio.
Brown is already Derby Ace’s second reinforcement in the import-laced tournament after Lorenzo Wade.
Though without a solid import, the Llamados are in contention for an outright semifinal berth, winning games largely on their efficient defense.
Derby Ace, the league’s top defensive team, held San Miguel to eight points in the last eight minutes of play then went to James Yap for the game-winning basket at endgame as the Llamados nipped the Beermen, 83-82, last Sunday.
Yap, the 2006 MVP winner, dished out two big games in the week, netting him the Accel Player of the Week honors.
The Llamados moved up to solo third at 9-5 while pulling the Beermen down to 11-3, a full game behind the league leading Talk n Text Tropang Texters (12-2).
Derby Ace needs to make the top two at the close of the double-round eliminations to get an outright berth in the semifinals.
“We’re still after that. As long as we’re alive, we’ll be there fighting,” said Gregorio.
“We have four more games left. There’s still the chance we can catch up if we can make a run,” Gregorio added.
Talk n Text is the team looking cinch for an outright semis entry.
At 12-2, the rampaging Tropang Texters need only one more win for a guaranteed playoff shot at an automatic semis slot.