PHOENIX coach Charles Tiu is setting his sights on a long-overdue return to the PBA playoffs for the Fuel Masters in his first conference with the team.
“The modest goal would be to make the playoffs first,” said Tiu. “They haven’t made the playoffs in five conferences. So that’s the first step, kahit maka-quarters muna. Then let’s see. We’ll build by then.”
“Siyempre, our dream is to win a championship. Any coach would want that. But I think we have to start building slowly, make the quarters, and maybe make the semis. But that would be the first goal, to try to make the playoffs,” said Tiu.
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Tiu has a young team at his disposal led by Jason Perkins, one of the few holdovers from the last Phoenix team to make the playoffs in the 2023-24 Commissioner’s Cup, where the team made the semifinals with Johnathan Williams as its import.
Tiu believes that his team has the players to make it back to the playoffs.
“To me, a lot of these guys are experienced. They also came from good coaches. So it’s just about playing the way that I want and playing the right way for us,” said Tiu.
Tiu is only in his first few weeks with the team, but he is happy with how the players are responding to him.
“I’m enjoying the team so far, to be honest,” said Tiu. “I like the way we've been practicing, we’ve been playing … Pero so far, I think the team is gelling well. Obviously, it’s just a preseason so it’s too early to tell. A lot of positives for me. Hopefully, we can continue to build in the season.”
Phoenix has already won two tuneup games against Magnolia and Converge. Its import, James Dickey, is also one of the earliest imports to practice with their mother teams.
But Tiu played down the early feats.
“It’s too early to tell. We’ll see when the PBA comes. I’m hoping they'll be able to respond pagdating sa season,” said Tiu.
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