Frustrated, dumbfounded
The Alaska Aces became just the 12th team in league history to be eliminated by a lower seed in the quarterfinals. And Calvin Abueva was equally perplexed and dumbfounded after the dust had cleared.
“Hanggang doon lang, may kasama e. Hindi natin malaman kung sino. Yung amin naglaro kami ng maayos,” the five-year league veteran said.
The Beast did his part, finishing the game with a game-high 29 points to go along with 13 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocks. But when he was brought out of the game with 37 seconds left and with Ginebra holding a 108-97 edge — the final score, he was clearly disgusted, trying to hold his frustration.
Ginebra shot 44 attempts from the foul stripe, with LA Tenorio attempting 13, compared to 31 for Alaska. The Gin Kings knocked down 34 of their freebies while Alaska hit just 17.
“E hindi naman natin maaano, twice-to-beat kami e,” a defeated Abueva quipped, trying to hide his frustration.
“Siyempre alam naman natin, malakas yung kalaban. Malakas pati sa taas,” he added before he walked off to the parking lot of the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
And Abueva and the rest of the Aces will have two months to wait and think about what just happened.
“Wala na tayong magagawa,” he lamented.
