Friday, July 09, 2004 CdO Stars can't affordto lose against Ozamis By Lynde Salgados
THE winless CdO Stars' July 18 meeting here with Ozamis Cotta at Xavier University gym can make or break the homeground dribblers' career in the National Basketball Conference.
After losing twice to Iloilo Warriors and recently to the hot-starting Cebu Tribes, the team of former Misamis Oriental governor Antonio Calingin is deemed to undergo a revamp, depending on the outcome of their fourth outing in the so-called Liga ng Bayan.
In losing to the Hercules Tangkay-led Tribu Sugbu, only the flashy point guard Julius Navales was able to score double-digit numbers for CdO's fourth-straight debacle.
CdO Stars coach Andy Calingin, however, believes that the local squad's real strength will be measured in their much-awaited bout against Ozamis bolstered with the likes of Egay Echavez, Milfred Sampilo and Christopher Ferraren.
"In our past three games kalat kaayo kay dili pa intact ang team. Now, we have big men Micmic Culdora and Benjie Tecson back in our fold plus the arrival of Bong Pineda as the official team trainor is a big factor sa among rebuilding program considering his 10 years experience with Cebu Hapee Toothpaste and UV (University of Visayas) Lancer," Calingin said.
The youthful mentor, however, admitted that changing guards is not a remote possibility in the event that the Stars will hardly sparkle in their succeeding games.
"Worse case scenario mapugos gyod kita pero kon puwede lang mo-stick kita sa majority local roster kay mao gyod kana atong gidamgo ever since nga mahatagan og break ang mga homeground talents," Calingin said.
With Pineda around, Calingin said local NBC fans can expect a better Navales and a different Christopher Carretas, Jester Adams, Eric Abato, Jun Pong, Ernesto Tagarda, Jerome Numeran, Nick Jabagat and Jingle Jimenez in facing a new challenge come July 18 showdown.
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