ABMS's mission: Stop Leones

ABMS coach knows what his team have to do if they want to beat Palm Cafe in the final of today's LBC Cup regular seven stars category stop Geve Leones.

"If we can stop him it will be like negative 30 points for them," said Kaka Espartero.

"We know he can score so we are going to use the Binas brothers, Rhoy and Roldan, to guard him.

"If we stop Leones, there is no more (Palm Cafe). If we can play 100 per cent we can beat them," he added.

Espartero might not exactly get 100 per cent from his players since he said the team had not practised in more than a week.

Their lack of stamina in the fourth quarter contributed to their 96-78 loss to Palm Cafe on Nov 15, a game which many rightly predicted was a preview of the final.

The 111th Philippine Independence Basketball Cup's Most Valuable Player, Leones scored a game-high 29 points for Palm Cafe in that match, so Espartero's concerns are genuine.

Formerly known as Babes Boutique, ABMS will field the same line-up which won the 2009 Brunei Pepsi Cup in August except for guard Marjumar Aying who is now playing for Palm Cafe.

Point-guard Don Dadis Mordeno will once again lead the ABMS attack, with power-forward Joseno Mangoroban and centre Mark Del Mundo also expected to carry the team.

They might have won their last meeting but Espartero's counterpart said he was not taking anything for granted.

"I think it will be a very difficult game because they are a strong team and have very tall players," said Lito Porlahe.

"Geve will be important, as will Elvin Requintin, but we will need a team effort to beat them.

"I am also expecting centre Sonny Bautista to contribute," added the playing coach.

The team are made up of the Linktech side, who grabbed runners-up spot in the Pepsi Cup and the Palm Cafe squad that won the 3rd Manjaro Cup in October.

Aziz Latif and Company (ALC) take on GILR Wildcats at 1.30pm in the battle for third today.

Meanwhile in the 45 years old and above category, Young Once defeated MK Super Kids 67-45 to emerge champions on Thursday night.

IMD B beat Nueva Ecija Patriot 77-69 to claim third.

The Brunei Times