Davao boy sees survival game

Davao’s basketball pride PJ Simon knows the meaning of coming back. From the days of his young basketball career in Davao’s collegiate leagues, to the days as a rising star with the Davao Eagles in the MBA, Simon has been in tougher situations like this.
As the B-Meg Llamados in the Governors Cup finals last year, Simon and his team came back from a 1-3 series deficit to tie the series against Rain or Shine, only to falter in the decider.
Now wearing the colors of San Mig Coffee, the former University of Mindanao standout and his teammates are in pretty much the same situation against the Elasto Painters, although in the semifinals. And instead of thinking of the series clincher, the veteran guard said they are taking it one game at a time.
“Survival game muna,” he said. “Game Six lang iisipin namin, wala na munang iba.”
The Mixers extended the series to a Game Six with a 79-67 win last week and they face off with the Painters again at 5:45 p.m. on Thursday at the MOA Arena. The Painters still lead the best-of-seven playoff, 3-2.
The 32-year old playmaker still vividly remembers the Governors Cup finals and had a quick reply when asked about the possibility of losing steam once more.
“Hindi naman siguro,” said Simon. “Kasi naniniwala kami na every game is a different game. Basta ibibigay lang namin ang best namin.”
“Excited kami kasi meron pa kaming chance (for Finals). Pero one game at a time lang muna,” he added.