WITH the conflicts of the past now over, the Tigresses are focused on the bottomline-win their first championship since 2006.
Thanks to a new coaching staff led by Chris Cantonjos, the team hopes to regain the title by playing more aggressive offense and especially defense.
“Past is past. Right now, we have set aside our internal conflicts to develop the team’s offensive and defensive plays,” top player Mary Laud said in Filipino.
With the Tigresses’ lineup still intact, Laud, together with inside players Paula Jean Bombeo and Chris Silva, will orchestrate their notorious run-and-gun play, but with more physicality in the post.
“We need to develop our running plays, but at the same time we need to be offensively and defensively aggressive,” Laud said.
“Before, in terms of our defense, we didn’t have any communication on the floor. Today we are playing with our rugged defense and hustle for rebounds,” she added.
To develop their physical conditioning, the Tigresses are having tune-up games against the Tiger Cubs and other teams from different schools.
The conditioning program also includes weight training and footwork and breathing development.
New recruit, Kim Reyes from Team-B is expected to provide instant offense with her relentless shooting, to go with her tight defense.
Laud said the sudden revamp of the coaching staff was a welcome development following a season beset by what she called “internal conflict.”
“We did not choose to change the coaching staff, but it was the officials who decided for the betterment of the team,” she said.
