The Star Hotshots won their third straight game Friday night after demolishing a depleted Globalport side, 127-100. Six players scored in double-digits for the Hotshots, who rose to 4-4 in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup team standings.
And with the homestretch of the conference’s elimination round closing in, the Hotshots intend to make the most out of the long break. Star’s schedule will not get any easier as the team shall face San Miguel (March 27), Alaska (April 2), and Mahindra (April 13).
Positioned in the middle of the standings right now, the team want to improve their chances of making the next round, and preparing for San Miguel is the main focus after Friday’s affair.
James Yap, who finished with 12 points, three rebounds, and four assists, said the team will be given a three-day break to recover before plunging back to training during holy week.
“Babakasyon muna (kami). Maganda bakasyon dahil galing sa panalo. Kalimutan muna basketball for three days. Ganoon pa rin. Walang relax. Binigyan lang ng kami ng break, pero pagbalik daw namin, humanda daw kami,” Yap shared.
“Yun lang yung break namin for holy week. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, practice kami. Wala munang bakasyon. Kasi mabigat yung game eh, San Miguel.”
Yap added there is no more tension among Star’s players.
“Wala na, natanggal na,” he said. “Masaya. Well, ganun naman talaga kapag nananalo. Iba yung ambience sa dugout.”
Yap knows the job is not yet done, but the squad is getting better each day and is slowly getting into a good position to make the play-offs. He said the team just has to remain focused on the task at hand.
“Kailangan talaga focus lang. (Hindi dapat) kumpiyansa. Ang gagawin lang siguro wag muna mag-relax,” Yap said.
