Hapee’s Art Dela Cruz puts a shot up as teammate Ola Adeogun looks on and MP Hotel’s Jopher Custodio, Rey Nambatac try to defend. TRISTAN TAMAYO/INQUIRER.net
Hapee’s fate just turned for the worse.
Coach Ronnie Magsanoc bared that the Fresh Fighters will be playing undermanned in the quarterfinals of the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup as five of his key cogs will be absent from his bench as the team prepares for the playoffs.
“Sa dami ng nawala, naguluhan na ako,” he said. “Nakikita ko na lang sila sa laro. We make the in-game adjustments pero baka ganito talaga dito. Mahirap talaga.”
Magsanoc said that 2015 Aspirants’ Cup MVP Bobby Ray Parks has already left for the United States to test his mettle in the upcoming NBA Summer League camps.
Garvo Lanete also has been ruled out for the season due to his MCL injury, and the trio of Baser Amer, Troy Rosario, and Scottie Thompson will be leaving June 6 as they join the Gilas cadets squad for the SEA Games in Singapore.
“Di ko alam kung sino ang darating. The players have made the effort to double yung effort pagdating sa laro. Dun na lang kami umaasa talaga,” he said.
But Magsanoc is still grateful for his players’ dedication to the squad despite lacking the preparation compared to what they had last conference.
And with a chance to finish as high as the third-seed owning a twice-to-beat edge, the Point Laureate is just giving the credit to his wards.
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“Thankful ako kasi yung pinangako ng players na kakayurin sa laro, ginagawa naman nila. Ang hirap lang talaga dahil kulang kami sa preparation,” he said. “But we will be ready kung sino man ang makakaharap namin.”