"Why fix something that's not broken?"
This is the basically what Sta. Lucia coach Boyet Fernandez is harping on at the moment after keeping his Realtors intact for their defense of the PBA Philippine Cup starting Oct. 4 at the Araneta Coliseum.
"I think, on paper, we are still in the top four," said Fernandez, who sounded woozy over the phone because of jetlag from a long flight from the United States where the Realtors went through a conditioning and team bonding tour.
He said that he did not ask management to look at the free agent market in the off-season because he feels that he still has a complete team that was made better by the US trip.
"All the players are looking forward to defend (the Philippine Cup)," Fernandez said. By hook or by crook, as they say.
"It (repeating as champion) would be hard to do, but if you don't aspire for it, it's going to be impossible to do."
Fernandez puts Talk 'N Text on top of the list of the teams to beat, with San Miguel, after acquiring Mick Pennisi from Red Bull and Jay Washington from the Phone Pals, coming in a close second.
Surprisingly, the young Sta. Lucia coach sees Rain or Shine as a serious threat starting this year after the arrival of Gabe Norwood and Solomon Mercado from the rookie pool.
Purefoods, which the Realtors defeated for the crown last season, is also one of the teams to beat, having gone bigger with the acquisition of Paolo Bugia and rookie Beau Belga. The Tender Juicy Giants also added some smarts on the backcourt by tabbing Topex Robinson from Red Bull.
Fernandez said his team is about 70 percent in sharpness going into the last two weeks before the season opens and that he would be working to get his Sta. Lucia crew to 80 percent ready before opening day. (PDI)
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