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AS PHOENIX tries to stay unbeaten minus suspended star Mac Belo, coach Eric Gonzales wants his players to come out with more intensity in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup Monday.
“They have been playing without fire,” said Gonzales.
Even without the suspended Belo, the still star-studded Accelerators take the floor favored versus winless Topstar Z.C. Mindanao at 4 p.m. at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Mike Tolomia, Roger Pogoy and Ed Daquioag set out to lead the Accelerators to a fifth straight victory.
Belo, last conference’s Most Valuable Player, was ejected in his last outing after getting slapped with a flagrant foul 2 for elbowing Blustar’s Chun Hung Ting in the first quarter.
Blustar Detergent, the Malaysian-based team fresh from a first win, aims to pick up another against AMA Online Education at 6 p.m.
“Now, they have gotten over the fear of facing the Filipino players,” said Blustar coach Goh Cheng Huat. “It’s a good sign because now, they won’t get beaten easily and they are adapting to the Filipino style of play.”
The Dragons carved out an 89-75 victory over the Aguilas with former Ateneo guard Juami Tiongson (24 points), Malaysians Wong Yi Hou (19 points and seven rebounds) and Kuek Tian Yuan (18 points, 11 boards and six assists) all coming out big.
“One of our main objective coming here is to adapt to the style of play of the Filipinos that we have appreciated for a long time,” said Goh.
“It’s a good opportunity and I hope the players are getting that style of play.”
Before their first triumph, the Dragons also nearly pulled off an upset over the Accelerators, 97-94, last week.