BOTH Phoenix and Blackwater already have the next season in mind, but intend to end the current one on a brighter note when they clash Friday in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Although long eliminated from the race to the quarterfinals, the 3-7 Fuel Masters and 2-8 Bossing are each still gunning for a second straight win that should serve them in good stead heading to the off-season.
The match should also officially decide their final standing in the Rookie Draft set Sept. 7 as the two teams are currently in the thick of the battle for the No. 2 overall pick.
Just ending the season with a mini-streak is enough for Phoenix and Blackwater, if their respective coaches would have their way.
"The most important game is the next game. Even though we're out of the playoffs, it's the last game of the season and we're just gonna do our thing. We'll play our best and continue to learn and grow," said the Fuel Masters' Jamike Jarin.
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"We'd play the way we've been playing the whole season," said Jeff Cariaso after his Bossing's 97-82 triumph over tailender Terrafirma last Sunday.
"It's just another game and we value every game and our approach for every game is the same," added Cariaso.
"So, yeah, we're gonna be out there to end the season on a good note and then draw up the schedule for the off-season going to the new season."
A follow-up to Phoenix's 118-107 conquest of NorthPort last June 4 would surely serve as a salve for Jarin. "For me, it was a disappointing season," he said.
"Going into the season, we're a young team but we had high hopes. We just couldn't finish the games, eh. A lot of the games we were up most of the time, even double-digit leads. We just couldn't finish," added Jarin.
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Like Cariaso, Jarin mainly put the blame on injuries that sidelined some of their key players. Mostly, it's about the steep learning curve every team, especially youth-laden and inexperienced ones, must go through.
"We just had to keep on grinding and hopefully everything will fall into place," said Jarin before hastily adding: "When we're good we're really good. We beat powerhouse teams like TNT, Meralco, Rain or Shine.
"Very promising. But, again, we have to go through the journey. The only thing talaga na you cannot fast-track is the experience. So another year for us to put in our experience package. I'm pretty sure, I'm very positive, that everything will fall into place next season." (NC)
