MANILA, Philippines - Despite the 73-94 rout they suffered Saturday, Far Eastern U coach Nash Racela said the Tams remain positive as they pick up the pieces and gear up for Wednesday’s Final Four rubber match with defending champion La Salle.
“We’re all positive,” was how Racela described the mood after the 21-point blowout that set the stage for the do-or-die for a finals berth.
But Racela, who expressed disappointment with the “disparity” in fouls in the second half, asked for “equal chances” in the sudden death.
“You know how basketball in the Philippines is: If it’s a Game 7, it will go to a Game 7. Hopefully, we could get equal chances in the knockout game. That’s the most important thing – pagdating sa (in the) last game, they give us equal chances. If we lose that way, we’ll take it, pag nanalo (if we win), eh di (that’s) good. But we will be ready, we will be ready,” he said.
The first thing Racela and his staff told the Tams after the lopsided loss was that the season isn’t over.
“The only thing they (DLSU) did was force a do-or-die. Wala pa sila sa finals (They haven’t beat us for a finals berth yet),” Racela recounted telling his wards.
DLSU coach Juno Sauler said they have to double their effort if they want to repeat over the second- ranked Tams and book a return trip to the finals.
“We still have one game (to win) and we have to prepare better for that game,” he said.
The big win notwithstanding, Sauler said the jury is still up if the momentum has shifted to the side of the Archers.
“I don’t know but I hope,” he said.