University of St. La Salle may be tantalizingly close to a third straight NOFA Provincial Men's Open crown but coach Freddie Lazarito is in no mood to celebrate just yet.

In fact, Lazarito remains cautious, a day before his team goes for a sweep against rival West Negros College in Game 2 of their best-of-three series at the Bago City pitch.

“For sure, their performance will be different from Game 1,” he told the DAILY STAR, before presiding over the La Sallians' practice at the USLS pitch yesterday.

“We cannot just count them out. But our team will be ready,” Lazarito, who steered La Salle to the National Men's Open crown in February 2006, said.

Imports Ruben Doctora from Iloilo and Izzeldin El-Habbib from Sudan provided the goals for the La Sallians, who established a pattern of dominance at midfield early on, paving the way for a number of scoring opportunities.

But more than their attacking teeth, it was La Salle 's imposing defense, strengthened by two six-footers --- Badrelin El-Habbib and Aly Borromeo --- that posed all sorts of problems to West Negros ' forwards.

“We have the size advantage on defense and that is really important,” Lazarito added.

Lazarito said, although his team only played its first game together Monday, each player was familiar with the style of at least one of his teammates.

While La Salle hopes to end the afternoon in jubilation, West Negros has no option but to come out with all guns ablaze to force a winner-take-all showdown on Friday.

“Definitely, we will be going all-out and extend the series,” WNC coach Norman Fegidero said in a telephone interview.

Fegidero said his players have already acknowledged their mistakes in the 2-0 defeat to La Salle Monday.

“We are trying to learn from our errors in Game 1,” he added.

Fegidero said he is set to make some changes in his starting 11 for the 3 p.m. game.

In his 45-minute stint, WNC substitute Alvin Valeroso constantly threatened to unlock the La Salle defense in the second half. His teammates, though, failed to provide the finishing touch.

Emelio Caligdong, the reigning National Open MVP, also had a lethargic outing in Game 1 and is expected to come out with energy and purpose this time. *CPT

NOTES: Lazarito thinks his failed bid to get three other Air Force players --- Yanti Bersales, Alejandro Montelibano and Joebel Bermejo --- is turning out to be a blessing in disguise.

That's because their replacements, the El-Habbib brothers, proved their worth in the Game 1 victory. Izzeldin, the younger of the two at 20 years-old, studies at De La Salle University, while Badrelin, 28, works at the Saudi Arabia embassy in Manila .

Both played for Baguio FA in the 2007 Men's Open Finals but are now seeing action for Kaya FC, alongside their La Salle teammates Aly Borromeo and Ruben Doctora Jr.

***

La Salle 's Rommel Ibañez is making the most of his vacation by playing for his alma mater in the tournament.

The electronics communications engineering graduate timed his break from work in Auckland , New Zealand to play for the squad, which he almost led to the provincial title in 2004.

Even his changing base to the “Land of the Kiwis” has not stopped Ibañez from playing the sport he has grown to love while he was a high school student at Don Bosco Technical Institute and later on as a collegiate standout at USLS.

Ibañez, who is set to return in January next year, is under contract with amateur team Ellerslie, although he had to sit out last season due to an injury he suffered in a pre-season game.

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