The Judiciary Magis and Malacañang-PSC Kamao battle in the third game at 5 p.m. of this Sunday’s tripleheader in the UNTV Cup Off Season Executive Face-Off at the Pasig City Sports Center.
The Magis are expected to show speed and high endurance to stop key Kamao players, such as Special Assistant to the President Christopher ‘Bong’ Go and Lieutenant Commander Paul Yamamoto.
Go scored 25 during the Kamao’s May 6 game against Senate Sentinels, while Go fired 22 when the team went up against the Ombudsman Graft Busters.
The Magis plan to tighten their defense to grab their third win after falling to the PNP Responders last week.
“Magpapakundisyon lang lagi para makasabay sa takbuhan. Sina Bong Go at Yamamoto, sila ang kailangan naming bantayan sa kanila,” said Magis’ coach Warren Ybanez.
Meanwhile, the DOJ Boosters (1-1) aim to secure their second victory when they face the Ombudsman Graft Busters (1-1) at 3:30 p.m.
Ombudsman coach Ricky Alcantara believes they need to ramp up their tactics and strengthen their lineup to overpower the DOJ cagers.
“I hope na next time makumpleto kami. Alam mo naman ‘yung mga executives, mahirap makumpleto especially ‘yung practice pa lang kulang-kulang na kami,” Alcantara said.
Meanwhile, the PNP Responders are expected to employ more effective tactics against the GSIS Thunder Furies in the first game at 2 p.m.
The Responders (3-0) want to gain a twice-to-beat advantage in the playoffs by maintaining their hold on the lead, with four elimination matches left in their schedule.
“‘Yung pinaka-strength namin dito is our speed and ‘yung solid defense namin. Minimize lang namin ‘yung mga foul and dagdagan ang practice,” said PNP coach Alfred Suarez.
The PNP coach admitted they found it difficult to have a complete lineup during their practice sessions.
“‘Yung sa ensayo naman, nag-aadjust kami depende doon sa availability ng mga players. So, minsan ‘yung iba hindi naman talaga nakakapag-ensayo dahil very busy talaga at out of town ‘yung iba. So kung sino ‘yung mga nandiyan, ‘yung mga natitirang lima hanggang sampu, as much as possible meron dapat kaming kundisyon na player. Lima, sampu okay na ‘yun,” he said.
On the other hand, the GSIS Thunder Furies want to focus on endurance as they are up against a very strong team.
“Tatakbo kami, ‘yun ang kulang namin. And then, papaanoorin namin ‘yung pagkakamali namin at saka pagkukulang versus sa DOJ. Mag-aadjust na lang kami,” said GSIS coach Rene Boy Banzali.
The Thunder Furies are winless.