Dreaming ON

The B-Meg Llamados ooze with confidence they can compete with anybody in the PBA Commissioner’s
Cup Finals as they set out for the battle physically and mentally ready.

Coach Tim Cone said lessons learned from their sad experience in the first conference and the acid
tests they gone through in the earlier stages of the second confab playoffs prepared them for for
the Last Dance.

They slug it out with either Talk n Text or Barako Bull in a best-of-seven series beginning Monday
at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“It’s good to be back in the championship. We’re growing as a team and, obviously, we want to
win the championship,” said Cone.

Having made the finals, the Llamados want to go all the way to nail a first crown in three seasons
and ninth in all in franchise history.

Cone said they used their sorry downfall in the Philippine Cup as a motivation, helping them ease
out Meralco in the quarterfinals then Barangay Ginebra in the semifinals.

“We talked a lot about the growth we’d got from that Powerade thing. It bitterly disappointed us
and we learned how not to take anything for granted,” said Cone.

“It helped us. You hate it when it’s happening to you but it motivated us. It helped us grow,”
Cone added.

Powerade became the Philippine Cup Cinderalla team after upsetting B-Meg (then the elimination round
top notcher) in their quarterfinal showdown.

The Llamados also teetered on the brink of disaster versus the Bolts in the Commissioner’s Cup
quarterfinals but survived, thus advancing to the semis against the Kings.

“When we lost the first game to Meralco, it’s like Powerade all over again,” said Cone.

Gutting it out through three games in the quarters turned out another blessing in disguise for the
Llamados, though.

“We played three tough games. The quarters grind prepared us for Ginebra,” said Cone.

The Llamados disposed of the Kings in four games in their best-of-five showdown to gain the first
finals berth.

Denzel Bowles totally outclassed Jackson Vroman and the Llamados overpowered the Kings, 108-84, for
the clincher Tuesday.

Cone said they shouldn’t be satisfied, and the Llamados agree they should dream on. (SB)