Star Hotshots. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Despite the three-game winning run, Star coach Jason Webb is keeping his wards on their toes going into the homestretch of the 2016 PBA Commissioner’s Cup eliminations.
“You always have to think that you can get better, and I think we still can on both ends of the floor, make basketball easy for us,” he said.
At 4-4, the Hotshots are right in the middle of the pack, tied with TNT, Rain or Shine, and Mahindra.
“We’re really looking at the team getting better and progressing further in the tournament,” he said.
But it won’t get any easier.
San Miguel awaits Star on Easter Sunday, followed by Alaska in Davao and a dangerous Mahindra squad on April 13.
However, Webb is keeping a positive attitude amid the task at hand.
“I like the team’s chances better now than when we’re 1-4, but nothing’s a certainty yet. We just are in a better opportunity lang,” he said.
And it helps that the Hotshots are slowly reminding themselves of the defensive intensity that has led them to titles before.
“The guys are really starting to embrace playing defense together. Ricardo (Ratliffe) has helped a lot, and maybe, may halong swerte na rin,” Webb shared, citing Star’s 127-100 win over a GlobalPort team which missed the services of main gunners Terrence Romeo and Stanley Pringle.
But Webb is always thinking big picture, hoping Star emerges out of the three-game stretch stronger and ready to return to contender status.
“In the end, you will always be judged by how far you’ll end in the conference,” he said. “We’re just hoping we ride this momentum.”