FOR Columbian its stretch run in the PBA Philippine Cup eliminations would decide whether it stays alive in the hunt for playoff spots or not.
Main reason why the Dyip have used most of the layoff the league took for the FIBA World Cup qualifiers to recharge and refine their game for an upcoming gruelling schedule.
"Nag-break kami four days after last game kasi sunod-sunod laro namin," related Columbian coach Johnedel Cardel, whose side last saw action Feb. 6 and winds up its last five games starting next Wednesday.
"Lalo na sa mga veterans, para makapag-recharge sila, maka-compete sa mga susunod na laro."
Columbian sure needs a full complement in the days ahead.
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It beat San Miguel Beer and previously unbeaten NorthPort but bowed to NLEX, Barangay Ginebra and Alaska, the last via a 94-72 rout.
That loss to the Aces was the Dyip's third straight, putting them at 10th on a 2-4 card.
Columbian is set to play back-to-back games against Meralco on Wednesday and Blackwater two days later before winding up its eliminations assignments against Rain or Shine (March 6), Magnolia (March 13) and TNT (March 22).
"Very crucial laro naming apat. Kailangan manalo kami doon," stressed Cardel.
"Mahirap kasi pagkatapos nu'ng apat matagal na break ulit. Mahirap kung wala ka ng chance pumasok tapos ang tagal pang maghihintay."
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The latter is the worst case scenario for Cardel, who remains upbeat.
"Good thing lang sa situation namin ngayon, naka-dalawa na kami. Before wala kaming panalo, isa lang," said Cardel. " At least eto naka-dalawa kami, me limang laro pa kami. At least, chances makapasok malaki.
"Positive kami. Kailangan i-improve namin past conferences. Ngayon naman medyo maganda samahan ng mga rookies and veterans namin, so konting polish lang din ulit.
"Hopefully, tatlong laro maka-dalawa, tatlo. Para sa long break ulit."
The respite has already helped Reden Celda and Jeepy Faundo to fully recover from their respective illness.
A viral infection forced Celda out the last two games while Faundo was nursing a flu and missed the Alaska game. Those blows were simply hard to take for a team already playing without last season's top player Jerramy King, who is nursing a posterior cruciate ligament tear on his right knee.
"Kailangan dapat iyung 15 players mo magagamit para pag injuries pumasok di ka masyadong masasaktan," said Cardel. "Tulad nu'ng mawala Celda ang laking kakulangan noon. Malaking bagay sa amin iyun. Wala ng King nawalan pa kami shooter. Ang ganda na takbo ng team tapos nawala naman player namin. Wala, back to zero ulit." (NC)
