DAVAO CITY — Zamboanga-Family’s Brand Sardines etched its name in the history books of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League last Monday.
However, it was all for the wrong reasons.
Zamboanga now holds the record for the least scored points by a team in a single game after succumbing to South number one seed Davao-Cocolife, 28-47, in the Game One of their 2019-20 Chooks-to-Go/MPBL Lakan Season semifinals.
“We started flat, we started everything wrong. Nafru-frustrate na kami. Hats off to Davao kasi they really defended us well. We really struggled on offense,” said Zamboanga head coach Britt Reroma, as his wards only converted eight shots on 60 attempts for the entire game.
The Family’s Brand Sardines-backed squad was held to just 11 points in the first half, then held scoreless in the final seven minutes and 11 seconds of the contest.
And though he expects all of his players to play with a sense of urgency in Game Two, Reroma will be putting his chips on Alvin Pasaol. After all, he firmly believes that Zamboanga will go as far as Pasaol can take them.
“Kailangan namin pumutok si Alvin sa Game Two, kasi this is really our worst game sa buong history ng team so we need to move on and learn from it,” said Zamboanga head coach Britt Reroma.
Pasaol, who leads Zamboanga in the scoring department with 17.3 points per game, was held to just four points on a disappointing 2-of-10 shooting from the field. And the Chooks-to-Go 3×3 star admitted that Davao’s suffocating defense caught them off-guard, which then led to the embarrassing defeat.
“Sobrang pangit ng nilaro namin against Davao saka sobrang tight namin. Saka kumbaga sa laro na lang mas na-mama nila kami. ‘Di namin na-counter ‘yung ginawa nila sa amin kaya ayun, ‘yung naging cause kaya natalo kami,” Pasaol chimed.
“Sobrang gulat namin with the way they played. ‘Di talaga namin expected na magiging ganito na blown out kami.”
With their backs against the wall, Pasaol vows to be smarter with his decision-making come Game Two. Moreover, he promises to do whatever it takes to lead Zamboanga past the series – even if it means sacrificing his shots.
“I admit na sobrang pangit ng laro ko. Pero babalik ako, tutulungan ko ‘yung Zamboanga na manalo ng championship,” said Pasaol.
“’Yung execution namin more on creator muna ako kasi sobrang scouted na ako ng Davao, Wala namang pressure, short lang talaga kami. Heading to the next game, kailangan kong maging prepared mentally.”
In the other South semis match-up, Allyn Bulanadi powered Basilan-Jumbo Plastic’s 77-63 Game One victory over Bacoor City.
Story by Jonash Dannug
Photos by Thel Suliva
