FOR a struggling team, any inspiration it can get is definitely a big boost.
On Thursday night, Arellano drew inspiration from Petron’s superb showing in the ongoing PBA Governors’ Cup and was rewarded with a thrilling 76-75 victory over Lyceum in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.
“I am inspired with how our team in the PBA is playing, especially last night’s game,” said winning coach Koy Banal, one of the deputies of the league-leading Boosters, which outclassed Talk ‘N Text, 122-88, on Wednesday for their sixth straight win in seven outings.
Banal added he also gets support from fellow Petron coaches, especially consultant Todd Purves, who he said has an Arellano shirt which the American mentor once wore in practice.
Banking on the heroics of Nard Pinto, the Chiefs notched only their fourth victory in 12 games that moved them into a tie with their victims for eighth place, a rank least expected of them after they were tagged as preseason favorites.
“Ang mali namin early in the season is we embraced the idea of being the team to beat,” Banal said. “We put so much pressure on ourselves.
“Ngayon, we just want to take it one day at a time. We want to get better every day.”
Banal and the rest of the Chiefs hope taking things slow will not be too late as they continue to set their sights on a Final Four berth.
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