It’s still not over. The Quezon Huskers, despite a 17-point blowout loss against the Pampanga Giant Lanterns in game 1, still have a chance for the championship trophy. However, with Pampanga already taking momentum and Quezon possibly losing Rookie of the Year frontrunner Louell Jay Gonzales in game 2, the following players need to step up for the Huskers in order to keep up with the defending champs.
Quezon’s Top Scorer Needs to Show Up Right Now
The Quezon Huskers have one of the best scorers in the league right now, however, he really needs to step up and come out of the shadow. We’re talking about elite scorer and sharpshooter Judel Ric Fuentes. He is not injured, but he’s been very inconsistent and inefficient since the MPBL playoffs kicked off. In their last 8 playoff matches, Fuentes only shot 26% from the field and 26.7% from the three-point line. For a guy who shoots 13 attempts a night, that’s bad.
His poor performance was evident in their Finals game 1 loss against Pampanga. The 5-foot-10 shooter played huge minutes but had a terrible shooting night, making only 3 of his 16 total attempts, including a disappointing 1-for-11 shooting from three.
He usually comes back alive late in the game and can give his team 20 to 25 points when he’s hot. But, right now, he really needs to bring out the big guns, especially now that they’re facing Justine Baltazar and the reigning MPBL champions. After all, he’s Quezon’s leading scorer with an average of 13.7 PPG.
Without his scoring prowess, it’s going to be a tough predicament for the Huskers in their next two games. Even with Gonzales and Gab Banal on the floor, and maybe (just maybe) surprising performances from Rodel Gravera or Christian Buñag, the biggest game changer should be Fuentes and his hot hands. At least, they won’t go down without a fight. As a team that lacks the power to match Pampanga’s towering giants in the frontcourt, they need all of the scoring from outside they can get.
Coach Eric Should Unlock These Two Gems
Aside from the potential of rookie sensation LJ Gonzales, head coach Eric Gonzales also needs to unlock two of his players right now.
First would be giving more open looks for Ximone Sandagon, who has been the clear frontrunner for the 2024 MPBL Most Improved Player of the Year. The 6-foot-5 athletic forward isn’t just a dunker, he’s also a great cutter and has evolved into a better shooter in close range through the years.
The second one would be former Phoenix Fuel Masters, Al Francis Tamsi. Although he’s only played 13 games this season, and needs to find his touch and improve his ball movement, Tamsi is just as reliable as any role player in the league.
Quezon is the complete underdog compared to the title-favorite Pampanga. However, with the perfect blend of effort, chemistry, and energy, this team could give the Giant Lanterns a good matchup. Afterall, they were crowned the champions in the south. It’s time for game 2, and the Huskers are back for a REBANSE!
