Mahindra Floodbuster coach Chris Gavina has drawn the line
After months of mediocrity, coach Chris Gavina wants to see more effort, better body language, and at least a semblance of brotherhood among the ragtag Mahindra Floodbuster.
And he has seen enough.
Wednesday evening, Mahindra were able to slice the Alaska Aces’ 18-point lead to just five points with just seven minutes remaining — and with an All-Filipino lineup. Though Mahindra eventually lost 98-92, their third loss in four games, Gavina was able to get his point across: either they show the willingness to buy into his system or they’re not going to play at all.
“I think some guys are feeling that they are above of the team. I don’t like it. Anybody who thinks that will be addressed,” Gavina shared after the game.
“You know, attitude and character are things that I cannot control, but I stressed after the game that I’m not gonna settle for anyone else’s standards but mine. It’s either you meet my standards or you’re going to get left behind.”
One of the players that drew the ire of the young Filipino-American coach was Alex Mallari. Mallari, who has been struggling in the last two games, was surprisingly benched at the 7:56 mark of the third quarter. He did not return to the game and finished with a stat line of seven points on 33 percent shooting and two turnovers.
“Totally out of character.
“He was getting opportunities of attacking the basket but, on the other side, it wasn’t about the turnovers, it was about his reactions to it,” Gavina remarked about the five-year league veteran.
“Go out there and make another play to be productive. It doesn’t have to be in scoring all the time, it can be on defense, so for me, if he wants to be considered my best player, he needs to be a leader that leads by example and throwing tantrums or bad body language does not do it for me or the team.”
And it’s not just Mallari, according to Gavina. It’s about the team’s attitude whenever they don’t get what they think they deserve.
“We can’t afford to be complaining all the time and find excuses. I think that’s a big lack of being an adult. We have too many crybabies right now.
“You just got to man up, move to the next plate, and make the right plays next time and don’t lull about the calls you thought you deserve,” Gavina declared. “You put in the work and you show me your professionalism, you’ll be rewarded and will play. I guarantee you they will be better than guys who don’t want to be here.
“I don’t care how much better somebody else is. If he is not sacrificing for the betterment of the team as a whole then we’ll move forward.”
It’s about time for Chris Gavina to assert his control over his team before it’s too late.
