Terrafirma head coach Johnedel Cardel would want the rest of his squad to stay grounded despite a blazing start to the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup.
The Dyip on Sunday took down Robert Bolick and NLEX via 99-95 decision to go 2-0 in the season-ending conference, not only matching their win total from the last Commissioner’s Cup but also setting their best start in a long while.
“‘Di namin iniisip na may dalawang panalo na kami, kasi baka mag-relax eh,” the veteran mentor said after the win at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The only time that Terrafirma began a tilt with back-to-back wins was in the 2016 Governors’ Cup, when the franchise then known as Mahindra went on a 4-0 start and eventually made it all the way to their lone quarterfinal appearance.
Manning the sidelines back then was Chris Gavina and the team had undergone multiple rebuilds since then, with veteran big man Aldrech Ramos the only remnant of that Enforcer team that’s presently with the Dyip.
The 2-0 start has also enabled Terrafirma to gain a share of the conference lead with Blackwater. According to league stats chief Fidel Mangonon III, it is the very first time that the Dyip and the Bossing are both 2-0 in the standings.
But then again, Cardel refuses to let this good start to get in their heads, for their sights are locked in on a much bigger target.
“So every game kailangan 1-0, 1-0, hanggang sa makuha namin ‘yung goal namin, [which is] to go into the quarterfinals,” he said.
And to be able to do that, the former cager turned coach offered, is by staying consistent with the work they’ve been putting in, especially on defense.
“Kung anuman ‘yung ginagawa namin sa practice, we have to continue that,” said Cardel. “Especially we’re focusing on our team defense, and also individual defense. Kasi ‘yun naman talaga nagpapanalo sa amin.
“Kailangan talaga magtulungan kasi maliliit kami — Calvo, Juami — so kailangan gusto ko maging komportable sila sa loob kapag dumedepensa ng malaki. Help will come, sabi ko. Nandiyan ‘yan,” added the 53-year-old tactician.
“Kailangan lang malaman namin ‘yung mga scheme namin sa depensa. Nakadalawang panalo kami, so we will continue that every practice.”
Staying on one page all the way through would help, too. “Kailangan namin ilaban ‘to every game. Ayun ‘yung goal namin, na makapasok naman kami sa quarterfinals. But siyempre, hindi lang naman kami ang lumalakas na team.”
“Lahat ng team, lumalakas. Kaya every game is very important to us. We have to play together,” Cardel said. “This time, I think, they believe. ‘Pag nagtutulong-tulong sila, lalo na sa depensa, we can win ball games more. More than two.”
