Former San Miguel sparkplug Ronald Tubid was disappointed with the Kia Picanto’s failure to close out and earn a shocking victory over his former team, reigning Philippine Cup champions San Miguel Beermen, Friday evening at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The Picanto was already on the verge of stunning the powerhouse squad as they made a 24-3 blast from 18 points down to take a 106-103 lead with 1:03 left, only to get their hearts broken by Marcio Lassiter that led to a 108-106 loss.
“Sayang. It’s a won game na sana,” said Tubid, who had seven markers in Kia’s conference finale.
The loss though, said the 36-year-old, had made Kia realize that they still have a lot of growing up to do. Tubid made Rashawn McCarthy as an example, citing the guard’s call for time with 1:08 left, when they were up 104-103.
“That’s the (sign) na hindi pa mature yung team.
“Kagaya nung dapat hindi kami nag-call nung timeout, pero tumimeout kami, so wala na kaming timeout natira, so one of the ano na young team [pa kami],” the 15-year pro rued.
“You’re not supposed to call a timeout; naubusan tuloy kami ng timeout. So parang yun yung indication na young. Kung veteran team yun, they’re going to burn the clock na. They’re going to foul anyway. So process still,” furthered Tubid, who was part of the trade that sent the first overall pick in the 2017 Rookie Draft to San Miguel.
This has been the first time Tubid had played against San Miguel, whom he played for nearly five years. Asked if he was out there to prove something, Tubid denied such, that he only felt glad to face his former teammates.
“Wala naman. They know na I can still play. I know that and they know kung ano kaya kong gawin sa defense and offense, so nothing to prove,” the native of Iloilo shared. “Alam mo naman tayo, ‘pag pinasok sa court, go hard lang.
“It’s really nice to play with my brothers at San Miguel, parang reunion, parang practice lang,” Tubid added.
“Pero at least kinabahan sila.”
