#LabanSanJuan: Going for the kill, Knights know that Pampanga will bounce back

Everyone in the world of basketball says that there are two games that are the hardest to win come postseason: the opener and the closer.

That's what in the minds of the San Juan Knights right now as they are gunning for the kill against Pampanga of the Northern Division semifinals later tonight at the San Andres Gym in Manila.

After last Friday's thrilling win over the Giant Lanterns to open the series, coach Randy Alcantara stressed that the Giant Lanterns are still in the hunt despite their virtual twice-to-beat advantage.

"Siyempre di naman talaga basta basta yung Pampanga," he said, noting that the squad of Bong Ramos has one of the stacked-up squads in the MPBL Lakan Season.

To him, the overconfidence in them was not much of a factor in the game, as he admits that Pampanga can turn the game around anytime.

"Di pumasok sa min yung overconfidence, kasi alam naman namin anytime makakabounce back yung Pampanga."

Those words were prophetic in the final frame, in which the visitors engineered that 15-4 run to come from eleven down to tie the game before Mike Ayonayon bailed them out at the horn with a bouncing floater.

Alcantara added that their reserves should be on call anytime, and he was glad on the contributions made by their bigs, despite the exit of Larry Rodriguez due to an apparent plantar fascitis.

"So ayun nga, niready ang lahat. Good thing nakafocus pa rin yung mga players," he said.

But he is hoping that they will have a good training for the remaining towers on the court, with Jeff Tajonera still unavailable and the ex-pro Rodriguez doubtful.

"Yung bigyan ng magandang ensayo yung mga bigs namin, especially against [Larry] Muyang and [Dexter] Maiquez."

Game 1 hero Mike Ayonayon admitted that it was their fault on being overconfident, as he told to the press about it.

"Siguro, nawala yung team defense namin," he admitted after the game, as it nearly wasted that double-digit spread with two minutes remaining.

"Parang naging overconfident: di makaexecute ng offense tas miscommunication palagi sa depensa, kaya medyo bumaba yung lamang."

With that in mind, the reigning Finals MVP knows what to fix heading into Game 2 in San Andres, where the Knights made their trademark in MPBL.

"Yung depensa talaga nagpapanalo sa amin. Dun naman nakilala ang San Juan Knights. Wag lang kami maging overconfident."

Photo by Harold Biado/San Juan Knights