In San Miguel Beermen’s previous 10 games in the 2017 Commissioner’s Cup, American reinforcement Charles Rhodes was a magnet for the referees’ whistles, averaging a whopping 4.8 personal fouls during that span.
But on Friday night against Globalport Batang Pier, for their final game of the eliminations, the 6-foot-8 center’s foul woes were seemingly addressed, as he only committed two fouls in SMB’s 112-101, twice-to-beat-edge-clinching win.
And the 31-year-old could not feel more relieved about how he had incurred less calls this time around.
“Finally! It took me like 10 games to get used to it,” said Rhodes, who finished with 34 markers, with 19 coming from the final frame. “Now I’m used and I understand. It was a process, man, my first year playing in the Philippines.
“It was a process getting used to the referees, but I got it now.”
The Galveston, Texas native’s adjustment came at the most opportune time for the Beermen, especially now that they will head into the playoffs with a win-once incentive that will make it easier for them to reach the semis.
After Friday night’s triumph, the surging San Miguel are now on playoff mode, according to Rhodes.
“We gotta get in playoff mode, today was the day. We just got to build off of that tomorrow in practice, keep that mentality,” said the nine-year veteran journeyman, who is now averaging 27.8 points and 11.0 caroms.
And that means that SMB are fully prepared for whoever they will face come the next round.
“It doesn’t matter [who we play]. Playoff time, everybody got to be ready.
“You can be the last placed team in the bottom of the playoffs, [but] you [can] come out playing like the number one team. Everybody just gotta have that mentality,” Rhodes declared.
