Real challenge awaits unbeaten Phoenix, says Tolomia

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Phoenix may be sitting at the top of the 2016 PBA D-League Foundation  Cup standings at 5-0, but Mike Tolomia knows his team still has to go through the top contenders before it can stake its claim as the league’s best.

“Di pa namin nakakalaban ang Cafe France at Racal kaya di pa namin talaga na-gauge kung saan na kami,” he said.

Fresh from dropping a near triple-double with his 25 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds in the Phoenix’s 126-77 blowout of Topstar ZC Mindanao, Tolomia acknowledges that the team is still far from its old and deadly championship form.

But the 10-day break helped a lot, with coach Eric Gonzales even noting that his team has adapted well to his continuous search for consistency.

“Nakapag-isip naman kami kung ano talaga ang dapat naming gawin sa team namin. Sinimulan namin sa practice, unti-unti naibalik yung intensity, at nagawa naman namin ngayon,” said Tolomia.

More importantly, the Accelerators handled the Aguilas easily despite missing Aspirants’ Cup Most Valuable Player Mac Belo.

“Pinaalala lang sa amin ni coach na itawid lang itong game na ito kasi nga wala si Mac,” Tolomia said.

But now, the real work begins for Phoenix, starting with its game against the Tile Masters on Thursday.

“Iba talaga sa eliminations kaysa sa Final Four. Kung manalo man kami ng two straight, mas magiging malaki yung chance namin na makuha yung 1 and 2,” said Tolomia.