TROUBLED TIMES. Head coach Flavio Christian Liaz of San Francisco gathers his wards in a timeout during Game 1 of the Finals last Monday at the Talisay City Sports Complex. CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON
San Francisco trying to avoid sweep in Governor’s Cup Basketball Tournament Finals
San Francisco head coach Flavio Christian Liaz knows very well what his team lacked against Talisay City in Game 1 of the best-of-three Governor’s Cup Inter-Cities and Municipalities Basketball Tournament Finals.
So today, as his team looks to extend the series to a deciding Game 3, Liaz hopes his wards will be able to correct the mistakes they made to bounce back from that 89-68 loss in Game 1 last Monday at the Talisay City Sports Complex.
“We lacked ball rotation, our defense was infiltrated and our rebounds were less,” Liaz said. “We will be working on those three: offense, defense and rebounds [to have a better chance in Game 2].”
There are things going San Francisco’s way in Game 2.
First, it is playing in its home floor at the San Francisco Municipal Gym in Camotes Island, Cebu. The team hasn’t lost there in the playoffs.
Second, San Francisco knows how to handle pressure-packed games, as shown in their thrilling Game 3 victory over Consolacion in the do-or-die North Division Finals at the Cebu Coliseum last Friday.
But then again, there are also things going against San Francisco.
First, its back is against the wall going into Game 2, which puts more pressure on their players and coaching staff.
In the North Division Finals, San Francisco won Game 1 at home, before losing Game 2 in Consolacion. It won the deciding Game 3 at a neutral court that was still dominated with Consolacion fans, which was at the Cebu Coliseum.
The more serious problem for San Francisco is that it is going up against a Talisay City team that has yet to lose this season. In 13 games to be exact.
And the South Division champs aren’t slacking off a bit going to Game 2.
“We will be preparing physically and mentally,” Talisay City Aquastars head coach Michael Rey Gurrea said after winning Game 1. “We will stick to the same game plan that [won us Game 1].”
Part of that game plan is to limit the production of San Francisco main man Kenny Rogers Rocacurva.
The Aquastars accomplished that superbly in Game 1.
“I’m not sure how many points Rocacurva made tonight but I’m pretty sure we limited him,” Gurrea said.
Rocacurva, who has been the barometer of San Francisco’s game, finished with just 17. That’s almost half of his tournament-high 33 that he scored in Game 1 of the North Division Finals against Consolacion.
If Talisay continues to limit Rocacurva in Game 2, it could well mean coronation for the Aquastars in Camotes.
Game 2 tonight now boils down to which team delivers: the one trying to stay alive, or the one on the verge of a championship.
The game starts at 8 p.m. and will be broadcast on Cebu Daily News’ Facebook page through Cebu Sports Live.
Game today:
San Francisco Municipal Gym
8 p.m. – San Francisco vs. Talisay City
(Game 2, Finals)