SOUTHWESTERN University coach Yayoy Alcoseba and the rest of the Cobras have no plans of going back to Cebu earlier than planned.
So they intend to win Game Two of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League Finals at all cost on Tuesday.
“Tomorrow (Tuesday) we have to improve everything or else we're going home,” Alcoseba said when he emerged from the SWU dugout at The Arena shortly after the Cobras lost the opener of their title series against La Salle Archers, 64-54.
“Sabi ko (sa huddle), win, sabi nila (players), win. O, tomorrow if we will not win we're going home so we have to win Game Two, so hopefully we can stay longer in Manila.”
Alcoseba pointed out the Cobras’ lack of aggressiveness and selfish play in the first thirty minutes of Game One, allowing La Salle to romp off to a 59-37 lead early in the fourth.
He specifically mentioned scorers Mark Tallo and Monbert Arong, who both had a bad shooting day from the perimeter.
Tallo, a former Archer, made only three of 11 shots, including 0-for-6 from beyond the arc, while Arong only scored 11 points on 4-of-13 shooting.
“In the first three quarters tentative kami sa offense, we were not aggressive sa defense we were competing against each other," said Alcoseba. "We want to make points. If (Mark) Tallo gets the ball, he wants to make the shot. If (Monbert) Arong gets the ball, he will make the shot."
"We should make an adjustment - they have to share the ball, they should not compete against each other," he added.
Competing in the Finals for the first time, Alcoseba said he wants to make the most out of the opportunity.
"Ayaw (ko) pa umuwi (pero) baka ngayon pauwiin na kami," he said in jest, referring to an earlier incident where league organizers booked the Cobras an earlier flight back to Cebu, in anticipation of SWU not making it as far as the Finals.
“Kasi dati di pa kami nakapunta may return ticket na so hopefully tomorrow we can win."
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