Comrades turn rivals in semis

Reality must now be setting in for six Gilas Pilipinas players who took part in the recent 30th Southeast Asian Games as they resume pro duties at the start of the PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals this weekend.

LA Tenorio, Christian Standhardinger, Stanley Pringle, Troy Rosario, Japeth Aguilar and Greg Slaughter will don PBA uniforms after taking part in Gilas’ unbeaten run to the gold in the biennial meet.

Tenorio, Aguilar, Pringle and Slaughter lead Barangay Ginebra San Miguel against Standhardinger and the Cinderella NorthPort Batang Pier in their best-of-five semifinals which starts tomorrow at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Rosario, on the other hand, returns for TNT KaTropa against Meralco in the other semis series set to begin Sunday at the Big Dome.

Winning the gold should give the players extra confidence going into their respective series, though getting substantial rest as possible is also key.

“Malaking tulong ’to kasi yung morale mo mataas,” said Rosario. “Pero kailangan mo magpahinga dahil madugo din pinagdaanan namin dahil halos wala kaming break simula ng mag-practice kami.

“Tapos na sakripisyo ko sa bansa, it’s time na ibigay ko sarili ko sa mother team ko,” he added.

Tenorio, Aguilar and Slaughter will have to get used to being familiar with Standhardinger as an opponent after spending the past weeks donning the blue and white colors.

“Medyo maninibago but that’s part of our job as a pro,” said Tenorio. “Naging professional kami to represent the country and be together in this SEA Games so I think walang rason para di kami maging professional playing for our mother teams.”

The winner of the two semifinals will advance to a best-of-seven title series slated after the Christmas break.

Another SEA Games gold medalist who will play in the semis is Meralco’s Chris Newsome, who teamed up with Columbian rookie CJ Perez, Phoenix Pulse’s Jason Perkins and San Miguel Beer’s Mo Tautuaa to give the Philippines victory in the inaugural 3x3 competition.

Newsome has since joined the Bolts’ preparation for the semis.