Constantino launches 3-peat drive at Valley

THE pressure to deliver for a record run doesn’t bother Harmie Constantino a bit but the backto-back winner at Luisita and Villamor has underscored the need for consistency as she tries to make it three-in-a row in the ICTSI Valley Golf Challenge, which gets under way today (Tuesday) in Antipolo.

“I don’t think there’s pressure,” said Constantino on the eve of the P750,000 event at the Valley Golf South where she placed a distant third in last year’s staging of the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour event topped by amateur Rianne Malixi.

“I just want to play well and I’m confident to know that I can produce good rounds. I just need to play consistently,” added the former national champion who has racked up six victories in a two-year pro career.

But a souped-up field is out to halt her streak, including last year’s runner-up Chihiro Ikeda, who also placed second to Constantino in the inaugural ICTSI Villamor Philippine Ladies Masters two weeks ago, and Daniella Uy, who is mounting a personal battle after squandering a couple of shots at the crown with late miscues at Luisita and Villamor. A talented cast of amateurs is also fancied to mix up title chase with Lois Kaye Go and Mikha Fortuna joining Mafy Singson and Koreans Minyeong Kim, Jiwon Lee and Eunhua Nam in the hunt in the 54-hole tournament put up by ICTSI that also features jungolfers Levone Talion and Rafa Anciano. While Singson has annexed a maiden pro win at Splendido Taal last year, the Cebu-based Go is gunning for her first although she missed her chance at Hallow Ridge last year while Fortuna expects to figure prominently, this being her pro qualifying tournament.

Meanwhile, Sarah Ababa, with a string of Top 5 finishes in the first five legs, including a runner-up effort in Bacolod, launches her own drive for a second LPGT win while going flat-out for a first victory are Florence Bisera, Pamela Mariano, Gretchen Villacencio, Lesley Icoy and Martina Miñoza.

Completing the 25-player field are Sheryl Villasencio, Lovelynn Guioguio, Lucy Landicho, Eva Miñoza, Apple Fudolin, Monica Mandario, Rev Alcantara and Korean Juyoung Yang.

“We had guys out there that were just whether feeling sorry for themselves for not making shots or thinking they can just turn it on or off, this is not the preseason, this is not the regular season.

This is the NBA Finals. That to me is really, really perplexing, disappointing,” he said.

Malone said he had demanded answers in the locker-room from his team about their performance.

“I asked the team, I asked them, you guys tell me why they lost, and they knew the answer. Miami came in here and outworked us, and we were by far our least disciplined game (of the playoffs).

“So many breakdowns. They exploited every one of our breakdowns and scored. If we’re going to try to go down there and regain control of this series and get home-court advantage back, we’re going to have to outwork Miami, which we didn’t do tonight, and our discipline is going to have to be off the charts,” he said.

Miami’s shooting was far more productive than in the opening game but Malone said he had warned his team that they wouldn’t get away with allowing open shots another time.

“As I mentioned after game one, the fact that they got 16 wide-open threes was concerning. They didn’t make them. So, we got lucky in game one. Tonight, they made them,” he said.

“So, it was definitely a breakdown in communication. It was definitely a breakdown in our game plan, and like I said, we just were not nearly as disciplined as you need to be in the NBA Finals.” AFP

Perpetual, Letran eye D-League semifinals

Games Tuesday (Paco Arena, Manila) 2 p.m. – University of Perpetual Help System-Dalta vs PSP Gymers 4 p.m. – Wangs Basketball @27 Strikers-Letran vs CEU

UNIVERSITY of Perpetual Help System Dalta and Wangs Basketball @27 Strikers-Letran eye quick entries into the semifinals of the 2023 PBA DLeague Aspirants’ Cup Tuesday at the Paco Arena in Manila.

On the strength of a superior quotient, the Altas and the Knights finished the eliminations as third and fourth seeds and enjoy the luxury of a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals over the PSP Gymers and the CEU Scorpions respectively.

Altas coach Myk Saguiguit, however, wants his troops to treat the the 2 p.m. duel as a do-or-die game.

“I don’t want the guys to be complacent because of that twice-to-beat advantage. I’m telling my players na hindi namin pwedeng bigyan ng chance ‘yung PSP na puro veterans. We need to get the win on Tuesday,” cautioned Saguiguit.

Perpetual defeated PSP, 93-82, in the elims.

As for the Knights, they look at the match as an opportunity to get even against the Scorpions, who dealt them a 92-85 overtime loss in the elims.

“It’s a good opportunity for us to bounce back. We’re ready for the Scorpions. They’re a strong team so we need to outhustle and match their energy for 40 minutes. Walang sukuan dahil playoffs na’to,” said Letran coach Rensy Bajar.

CEU coach Jeff Perlas admits their backs are against the wall but remained unperturbed.