Ramos: Don't think about playoffs yet

BONG RAMOS insists that his players should keep their feet on the ground after beating Asean Basketball League (ABL) favourites Philippine Patriots on Sunday.

The Brunei Barracudas beat the Patriots 95-70 at the Indoor Stadium of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas to pick up their first back-to-back win in the league, and they now sit fourth in the six-team table.

Many emphasised that the victory was the first for a team from Brunei over a team from the Philippines in basketball, and the Barracudas' owner, Nadzaty Azma Azeez, was even quoted on the ABL website as saying that the win puts them in the race for the playoffs.

But despite all the back-patting surrounding the victory, the head coach is adamant that his players should continue to take one game at a time and not just think about making the playoffs.

The Barracudas have six games left and only the best four teams in the league will continue their season after that.

"The Patriots are still the strongest team in the league, I feel we were in the right place at the right time," said Ramos yesterday.

"Actually it's like this, if we keep on winning we have a big chance of entering the final four

"But it is still a long way to go. For me, I don't want to focus on the final four and that is what I have told the players too.

"Every game we have to try our best to get a win, and after the six games we will know if we are in or not," added the ex-Indonesia national team coach.

The Barracudas will have the chance to improve on their 4-5 win-loss record next Monday when they take on the Patriots again, this time in the Philippines.

Ramos felt the Filipinos had a bad game on Sunday and the Barracudas played well, accounting for the win.

They were also missing key players Elmer Espiritu, Khazim Mirza and Nonoy Baclao, and Ramos thinks that the Patriots will know how to adjust better in their next meeting.

"We executed tremendously and they executed badly," said the coach.

"I am sure they will adjust their strategy on Monday, so I will have to study and anticipate what adjustments they will make. I just hope we can continue winning."

The Brunei Times