#ABLSeason7Finals: Four burning topics ahead of game 2

The Blue Stars drew first blood in the Ayala Land Basketball League Finals when they defeated Sky Force, 100-86 last February 5.

And later tonight, they can clinch the title in their best of three series.

So here are the talking points heading into Game 2.

1. The Middle Quarters are crucial.

Make no mistake, the second and the third periods was the time when the Blue Stars broke away when they won Game Number One, outscoring them 50-43 in the second and third period.

It was also in that stretch where they put up their biggest lead at 51-35, as their sixteen-point buffer was enough to withstand the Sky force's last-quarter fightback attempt.

For Skyforce, they have to do something if they want to extend this into a winner-take-all.

2. Keeping a BALANCED effort

Surely enough, this was a huge factor in the Blue Stars' series opening win, in which they had half of the ten players in uniform hitting double figures.

Peejay Barua's 29 points were the key for others to pitch in, with Mac Sevilla and co. duly stepped up.

In contrast to the Sky Force, only Dray Geraldo and Paulo Balidoy were in double digits, as their back-up supply were non-existent when it mattered.

Help is what they need, or else the Blue Stars will sweep this.

3. FREE THROWS and AGGRESSIVE OFFENSE

The discrepancy from the foul line was evident in game 1, where the Blue Stars hit 20/25 (80%) as their aggressive drives to the basket were integral to their game plan.

Mac Sevilla hit a huge chunk of his 15 points from fifteen feet, hitting all but one of his freebies.

In contrast to the Sky Force, they only shot 9/17 which it puts a huge dent on their numbers knowing that they should have scored those free points when the clock stops.

Will the Sky Force go aggressive tonight?

4. Will the real Gerard Castor turn up?

Gerard Castor is the high-profile player for the Sky Force, as he was a part of the CSB Blazers in the NCAA where he teamed up with pros like Jonathan Grey and Paolo Taha.

However, he could not convert it here in the ABL Finals, where was limited to just four points, but made it up for it when he had 9 assists and 6 steals.

Considering the pedigree of Peejay Barua (he was from Benilde's more famous up front neighbors in La Salle), Castor should bring his A-game from Taft Avenue to lead the Sky Force, who are in a do-or-die situation.

Well, that's all for now, as tip off for Game 2 is just five hours away.

Photo by Ayala Land Basketball League