De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde only has one game left in the elimination round and a win there could seal the Lady Blazers' outright ticket to the championship round.
But head coach Jerry Yee stressed they aren't putting too much premium on that, saying they are just preparing for what's on their plate next.
Benilde, currently unbeaten at 8-0, will face still winless Jose Rizal University on Sunday with a sweep of the elimination round at stake.
"'Yung mga ganyang terms, I don't really promote sa mga girls. Kami laro lang. Kung may darating na kalaban, research natin then aralin natin," Yee said after they disposed of rival Arellano University on Wednesday with a sweep victory.
"For us it's work all over again, it's back to zero. Every game gano'n, same 'yung
preparation namin regardless."
("I don't really promote those terms to the girls. We just play. If there's an opponent coming, we'll do our research and we'll study... For us, it's work all over again, it's back to zero. Every game, we do that, we prepare the same regardless."
Benilde traversed a similar path in the previous season, sweeping all nine games in the elimination round before booking an automatic spot in the finals. They eventually pulled off another sweep of the Lady Chiefs in that best-of-three finals affair to deliver the school's second title.
But the Taft crew isn't looking beyond what's in front of them, especially with reigning MVP Mycah Go sitting out due to an injury.
Go's absence leaves a hole in their game plan, but the coach stressed his current players can more than make up for it. Leading their offense this season is the one-two punch of Jade Gentapa and Gayle Pascual, who are also the two players leading the league in efficiency.
Yee also credited his setter Cloanne Mondoñedo, who's been consistent not only on playmaking but also on both offense and defense.
"Sometimes kulang kami ng options sa harap so naglalabas tayo ng second setter. Malaking kawalan yung Mycah Go pero napupunan naman ng ibang players," Yee added.
("Sometimes we are short on options up front so we bring out a second setter. Mycah Go was a huge loss but the other players can make up for it.")
—JMB, GMA integrated News
