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HAPEE TOOTHPASTE coach Louie Alas knows very well what Harbour
Centre is capable of doing when its ego is somehow hurt.
To repel the expected wrath of the defending
champions, Alas advised his boys to prepare themselves for another
hard and intense action as they seek a commanding 2-0 lead Saturday
in their title duel in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL)
Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup at the Ayong Maliksi gym at the Trece
Martires gym in Trece Martires City, Cavite.
“Knowing Harbour Centre, we have to prepare
hard because I know they will come back strong,” Alas, gunning for
his first PBL title, said. “We should not give them an inch
because they are a dangerous team.”
While he acknowledged Harbour Centre’s deeper
bench and firepower, Alas remains confident they can match up well
against the Batang Pier when they clash at 3 p.m. (The game will be
aired on IBC 13 and Basketball TV from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.)
For one, the Complete Protectors have a slight
edge in height, especially their frontline. More than that,
Hapee’s frontcourt crew is more aggressive than the big men of
Harbour Centre.
Though he’s getting the usual numbers from his
top guns, Alas said their character and desire to get back at
Harbour remain as the team’s biggest weapon.
“We proved during Game 1 that these boys have
what it takes to win a crucial game. And the way we battled back
from an 18-point deficit was a testament to their desire to get even
with Harbour,” said Alas.
Meanwhile, Harbour Centre head coach Jorge
Gallent believes his boys have what it takes to get back into the
series, although they have already lost two in a row to the Complete
Protectors this tournament, including a no-bearing game in the elims.
Gallent also hopes to use their Game 1 setback
as a motivation since they can’t afford to lose another game.
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