Palm Cafe hope to reach finals at LBC Cup

PALM CAFE remain the strong favourites in the regular seven stars category of the LBC Cup as the tournament enters the semi-finals stage at the Brunei Basketball Association court in Batu Bersurat.

Palm Cafe are the only team confirmed in the semi-finals so far having won all five of their games sweeping through Group A to advance into the semi-finals slated for Dec 1 waiting for the runners-up of Group B.

"We practise three times a week to prepare for the semi-finals. The most important thing is for us to pick up our defence which I believe will be key in our upcoming games," said Lito Porlahe, playing coach of Palm Cafe.

Prior to their opening match, Porlahe had mentioned that his team had trouble gelling due to the seven stars rule but are getting better with more games under their belt.

"It's good now as the players are following all the instructions given. We are playing as as team and not as a one-player team," said Porlahe.

When asked on what he thinks about being labelled as the favourites, the Filipino coach replied: "We have to take it one game at a time but I'm confident that we can make it into the final."

Tomorrow's game will pit ALC against GILR Wildcats in Group B at 1.30pm. A win for ALC will create a three-way tie between ALC, GILR Wildcats and Beaver Engineering where the two teams to advance will be determined by the quotient system.

In the second match at 3pm, ABMS, who were known as Babes Boutique to claim the crown for the 2009 Pepsi Cup in August, will go up against the winless SOLD in Group A.

"We are ready and confident that we can conjure up a victory against our opponents. But we will not be overconfident and told the players to be focus on the match," said ABMS coach Kaka Espartero.

A loss would put ABMS into a two-way tie with Warriors who are on three wins and two losses.

Espartero is also seeking to reach the final despite losing to Palm Cafe 78-96 on Nov 15. The Brunei Times