Momentum building for TGIF MANILA
Finals Game 1 atmosphere is PAL Arena is soaring high. Two teams battling it out for the coveted trophy. Promotion is at stake. The pressure is building up for both teams, It's all a matter of which team is most composed. Today, TGIF MANILA comes out the most composed of the two.
TGIF MANILA silenced the early raucous of the audience and went away with an 89-83 win against team Polydozel. Taking the Game 1 victory, is a must for them.
"Having the Game 1 home advantage on a best of three series can also be a disadvantage, as they would relax and lose focus, and eventually, they underestimated our focus." Says TGIF MANILA forward Roberto Alfonso, who had a superb Finals performance, scoring 30 points, and 11 rebounds.
Ceasar Hijastro is also a notable player in the game. Asides from his 15 point, 5 rebound performance, Hijastro defenced well against Polydozel gunner men Guarnes and Corneja, in which, he outmaneuvered them with tenacious defense and supreme hustle. Thus, frustrating them with a combined score of 16 points.
"TGIF MANILA really read our play. They seem to know that we would push the ball to our gunmen. And Hijastro really did a good job in defending [Guarnes and Corneja]." says the Polydozel coach.
"The game really was interesting. the teams were duking it out. TGIF MANILA were really into the game, as team Polydozel never really had a lead in the game... quite bizarre, actually." says one sport analyst.
Now, the momentum that was once within the grasp of team Polydozel, shifts to TGIF MANILA as they play the host of game 2 of the league II.3 Finals. TGIF MANILA is one win away in obtaining promotion, unless, team Polydozel wants to make this a series.
"Maybe it's shivers on our stomachs that we lose, but we will retaliate on Saturday and make this even." Says Simeon Tongson, Polydozel center who had a finals performance of 22 points, 15 rebounds. "Then, we will have a game."