Pepito confident more conditioned Consolacion team can bounce back

CONSOLACION head coach Delfin “Jun” Pepito believes his Sarok Weavers aren’t out of the series just yet, even if they lost to San Francisco in Game 1 of the North Division finals of the 2018 Cebu Governor’s Cup Inter-Cities/Municipalities Basketball Tournament last Sunday at the San Francisco Municipal Gym in Camotes Island.

Pepito, also the coach of the University of the Visayas Baby Lancers, knows what went wrong in Game 1.

“My players were not in good condition in Game 1. Our shooters were not in good condition, they failed to deliver for the team. They failed to help (Emmanuel) Villamor and (Patrick) Montaño and our defense was very loose,” said Pepito.

Villamor and Montaño led the defending North Division champions with 24 and 20 points, respectively in Game 1 but that wasn’t enough to help the team pull off the win.

Defense is the key

Good thing is that with Pepito being aware of the team’s shortcomings, the veteran mentor can make the needed adjustments coming into Game 2 tonight at the Consolacion National High School gymnasium.

“I have to make sure that my players are in great condition and we have to successfully execute our defense,” he said. “I strongly believe that we can bounce back in Game 2.”

Pepito is banking on homecourt advantage in Game 2, but he still stressed to his team that in order for them to have a better chance of winning, they should find a way to limit San Francisco main man Kenny Rogers Rocacurva, who had 33 points in Game 1.

“We have to minimize Rocacurva’s scoring. He’s the key of San Francisco. If we control his game, there’s a huge chance that we will take Game 2,” Pepito said. “I always tell my players to focus on defense because if there’s good defense, it’s easier for us to execute offensively.”

Should Consolacion win tonight, Game 3 will be on July 13 at the Cebu Coliseum.

The winner of this series takes on South Division champions Talisay City Aquastars for the overall crown.