One game at a time for Flying V Thunder

One game at a time for Flying V Thunder

by rick olivares

"We're back to square one," said Flying V Thunder head coach Eric Altamirano one day before their semi-finals series with the CEU Scorpions in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup. "There's no twice-to-beat advantage. It's zero-zero. And now you are up against very good teams. And CEU is a veteran and champion team."

The two teams square off at 3pm at the Ynares Center in Pasig today, August 9.

Altamirano, team owner Chito Villavicencio, team manager Joey Guillermo, and team captain Eric Salamat, and teammate Travis Jonson met up with the media at Gino's at the Podium to talk about their semis match-up as well as sum up the season that has gone on surprisingly well.

"For us," shared Salamat, "the opening day come-from-behind win against Cignal gave us confidence. "Before that we didn't know what we were capable of. The win against a champion team helped us."

"I am told that we are only the fourth team to sweep the eliminations," said Villavicencio. "Hopefully, we can finish on a high note."

"We just took things one game at a time. We never thought of a sweep" noted Altamirano. "I have experienced this before (in the Filoil Flying V Championship with NU where they went 15-0 but lost to UE in the finals). CEU and Cignal have won championships here so we are the new team here."

The Thunder were born out of the ashes of the original team that was supposed to compete in the Country-Wide Basketball League. When the CWBL was unable to tip-off, the Thunder joined the PBA D-League. "We are just happy to still be competing at this stage of the competition," added Altamirano.

Team Manager Joey Guillermo divulged that Salamat has received an offer from a PBA club but the former Blue Eagle declined and opted to stay and finish his contract with Flying V. "As team captain, you have to set an example," bared Salamat. "Besides, we have a good family here."

Guillermo also stated that Flying V also received an invitation to participate in the Merlion Cup in Singapore. "It is something we will discuss after the season," noted the team manager.