ALL it needed for Mapua to finally play to its true potential was to be pushed on the brink of elimination.
That type of mentality might have them playing with fire but it’s an approach that Cardinals coach Randy Alcantara will take after seeing his club batter the St. Benilde Blazers, 73-58, to force an extension in their NCAA Season 101 quarterfinals match-up.
Put in a situation where they had to put up or pack up against the Blazers who are holding a twice-to-beat advantage, the Cardinals took control of the game from start to finish and continued their mastery over the team they’ve eliminated in Season 99, and swept in the finals in Season 100.
READ: Mapua continues playoff mastery over CSB to force do-or-die clash
“Kung kailan kailangang-kailangan, nagpakita,” Mapua head coach Randy Alcantara told Spin.ph.
“There’s no more tomorrow for us. So yun, nakita ko sa preparation, the two, three days ng preparation namin, grabe yung focus nila, grabe yung ginawa nila sa practice.” he added.
While inconsistencies have plagued them for most of the tournament, this type of performance doesn’t surprise Alcantara at all.
This is always how he has envisioned his team to run, a team filled with players who will play their respective roles and make the necessary sacrifices.
“Alam naman natin na may ganun sila pero minsan talagang nattyempo na may lapses. Pero kanina, willing sila lahat na gawin ang role nila. Kung ano man yun, rumebound man or dumepensa, ginawa nila,” Alcantara said.
“Yung second group especially, Drex [Delos Reyes] of course, [Cyrus] Nitura, [EJ] Sapasap, Cyril Gonzales off the bench. Nakita natin yung mga sakripisyo sa depensa at nailabas yung totoong Mapua Cardinals.”
Alcantara knows that people may have already counted them out after going 7-6 in the classification phase and missing out on a twice-to-beat advantage in a group they were expected to win.
The champion coach understands where that sentiment is coming from, but his faith in his team has never wavered.
“Natural naman yun, at tinatatanggap namin kung ano man ang sasabihin samin. Normal lang yun at ready lang kami sa ganun,” he said.
“Sabi ko nga, hindi naman nila alam ang mga nangyayari samin, kami kami lang nakakaalam. Alam namin na pag tumrabaho lahat, may teammwork, nakikita natin [ang resulta].”
The Cardinals still need to beat the Blazers again to formalize their entry to the semifinals, something that Alcantara knows will be easier said than done.
But if they can keep the same intensity and fire, he’s confident at his team’s chances come Friday.
“Kailangan makapag-pahinga ng maayos. We have 24 hours. Kailangan wag namin baguhin kung ano ang nasimulan. Andito na kami e,” he said.
“One game at a time parin, kailangan ganun lang ulit. Wag kami mag-kumpyansa, alam natin ang Benilde babalik at babalik pero nasa amin na yan kung paano kami [maglalaro] for Game 2.”
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