USJ-R JAGUARS ‘CLAIM CESAFI TITLE’
USJ-R head coach Leodie Garcia uses Bible verse to motivate team, ‘claims Cesafi title’
Game 3 is yet to be played but the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) is already claiming the title.
No. Coach Leodie Garcia is not being cocky nor is he getting ahead of himself. It’s his own unique way of boosting his team and it’s based on a bible verse too.
“We are very positive. We already claim the title. This is not boasting, but we will use this as a motivation for us to come out with our best performance,” said Garcia, a day after steering his team to a convincing 68-58 win in Game 2.
“It’s in the Bible verse. Hopefully God will give it to us,” said Garcia, referring to Mark 11:24 that says “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you received it and it will be yours.”
Garcia said prayers should be accompanied with motivation, hard work and a will to win to get to their goal.
Reigning MVP and the Jaguars court general Jaybie Mantilla said playing tight defense and limiting turnovers will be the team’s game plan.
“We maintain the game plan of coach. Be aggressive on defense and the offense will follow. As a point guard, it is my responsibility to handle every possession and limit turnovers,” he said.
On the other hand, the threepeat-seeking Green Lancers will play the final game of the season without their head coach Gary Cortes on the bench. Cortes was suspended for one game after acquiring two technical fouls in Game 2.
Cortes said if his ward will follow the system, he believes the team will win. Cortes has confidence in his players and the coaching staff.
He also expressed dismay on officiating after Game 2, when he was thrown out at the latter part of the third quarter with two technical fouls.
“I know how to accept defeat, much more against a top caliber team like USJ-R. But it was the worst officiating in my entire career,” Cortes posted on his Facebook account.