COACH Ariel Vanguardia has just a couple of major instructions to his Blackwater side going to its duel with rampaging Converge Sunday in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
"Huwag namin dapat ibigay 'yung kanilang gustong gawin, run-and-gun," said Vanguardia on the eve of the match.
"Kailangan talaga naming i-dictate ang pace, play deliberate basketball and, pinaka-importante, huwag itapon ang bola," added Vanguardia.
Such directives are borne of necessity in the Bossing's bid to bounce back from a 98-108 loss to TNT two Saturdays ago and improve to an even 4-4 record but must do so against a Converge squad that has won three straight and is currently at 4-2.
Troy Rosario (foot) and Jayvee Casio (groin) would continue to be out while Baser Amer is nursing a calf muscle strain and is listed as a gametime decision.
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"Marami kaming di lalaro so kailangan niyan medyo i-pace namin ang laro," said Vanguardia. "Iyon din sana gusto naming game, uptempo, pero dahil nga sa injuries kailangan di kami makipagsabayan. Ibang gameplan dapat."
Also, in the loss to TNT, Blackwater wound up with 31 turnovers which the Tropang Giga converted into 34 points.
"Combination ng defense nila and careless possessions namin so nagmukha tuloy na super-ganda laro ng kalaban," rued Vanguardia.
Now comes Converge, which used its running game to the fullest in counting usual heavyweights Meralco and San Miguel Beer as its latest victims before unveiling another facet to its game in shocking TNT just last Friday.
Against the Tropa the FiberXers boomed in 21 triples and 34 assists en route to fashioning a 130-117 stunner with Vanguardia and his staff among those avidly watching the game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
"Nagbibigay din naman sila ng puntos, gusto nila ng shootout, so we cannot engage them in a shootout," noted Vanguardia.
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"Pero overall magandang challenge ang game na iyon kasi maganda inilalaro ng Converge and sanay naman kaming dehado, eh." (NC)
