RAPTORS, KAMPANTE LANG PARA SA NBA TITLE

DAHIL sa kalmadong laro, abanse na sa isang panalo na lamang ang Toronto Raptors para sa pinakamimithing titulo ng NBA at ito naman ang labis na ikinatutuwa ng mapagsuportang fans habang nananatiling cool lang ang laro ng players.

Sa dalawang beses na panalo sa road game para sa 3-1 edge laban sa defending champion Golden State sa best-of-seven NBA Finals, kaswal lang ang kanilang pakiramdam bagamat nag-uumapaw ang kasiyahan ng buong fans at naroon na sila sa tinatawag na epic levels.

“The focus part has been impressive (and) necessary,” saad ni Raptors coach Nick Nurse. “They know we can’t get some place before it gets here. You got to put in the work to do it. There’s still a lot of work to do.”

Ang dramatikong panalo upang maabot sa isang hakbang na lang ang NBA crown na mula pa noong Oktubre nila hinahabol, ang naghahatid ng labis na kasiyahan sa kanilang corporate report at business meetings sa Raptors. “We’re focused. We know that it doesn’t mean anything until someone has four wins,” sabi ni Raptors star Kawhi Leonard. “You never know what could happen and you got to take advantage of it and don’t get overly hyped and excited.” “Just stay in the same routine and just focus on what’s in front of me. Human beings, we do think in the future. You just got to stay current, stay in your routine, be patient and not rush anything.”

Si Leonard, na marami na ring naging absent sa laro ng nakaraang season dahil sa injury ay nakagawa na ngayon ng trademark. Pawang sina Kyle Lowry, Marc Gasol at Danny Green ang bumalikat muna sa trabaho ng teammates.

“Kawhi certainly sets that tone, but so does Kyle, Marc, Danny. The younger guys take the cue from them. They just know there’s not a whole lot of energy to spend on celebrating before time,” sabi ni Nurse.

Samantala, matapos na aksidenteng masiko sa bibig sa 4th quarter ng Game sa NBA Finals, okey nang maglaro muli si Toronto backup point guard Fred VanVleet sa Game 5 ngayon pero, gagamit ito ng mouthpiece. “I got back home, went to the hospital, got a CT scan to make sure that no bones were broken in my face,” saad ni VanVleet. “Then (I) went and made a visit to the dentist, and went home and went to sleep.” (MC)