Frustration had seeped into Denzel Bowles when his Rain or Shine got blown out by Terrence Jones and the TNT KaTropa last Wednesday, since it gave them their fifth loss in eight outings in the 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
And according to Beau Belga, the import made the whole Elasto Painters know about it during one practice.
“Nagsalita siya na, parang sinasabi ni Denzel, everybody needs to be vocal. Si Denzel, tahimik na tao, hindi siya yung palasalita na bibigyan ka ng instructions or whatever,” said Belga, one of Rain or Shine’s leaders.
“Talagang ang sinasabi lang ni Denzel is kung ano man ang nakikita namin sa kaniya, we need to tell him, tapos at the same time, siya sa amin. It’s a sign of frustration dahil nilalabas niya lahat tapos kami parang relaxed lang,” the the two-time PBA champion continued.
“Yun ang sinasabi niya sa amin. Kung ako as a player, sinabihan mo ako ng ganoon, ako masasaktan ako but at the same time, I take it as a challenge – i-challenge ko yung sarili ko to be better in every game na mayroon kami.”
The 11-year veteran himself admitted that what Bowles had told all of them lingered in his mind.
“Ako inisip ko talaga yun kagabi na yung import namin nagsalita ng ganoon, talagang he means it and I take it as a challenge. Talagang nakatulog ako late na dahil iniisip ko yung sinabi niya sa amin,” Belga shared.
So come Saturday night versus the Alaska Aces, the Elasto Painters made sure to respond accordingly.
Rain or Shine conquered the Milkmen, 86-84, to snap out of their two-game funk and to give more life in their quarterfinal aspirations — the Elasto Painters are currently at sixth place, tied with Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters.
“Crucial sa amin na manalo kasi unang una, kapag natalo kami dito, lulubog kami,” Belga said.
But sadly, the one who challenged Rain or Shine fell down. Bowles suffered a knee injury late in the second quarter after a collision with Aces forward Jeron Teng. He left the game with 16 points and never came back.
With their comrade fallen, Belga and the Elasto Painters played with the former Best Import in their minds.
“Kasi si Denzel every gameday, binubuhos niya lahat.
“Binuhos niya kanina, naaksidente. It’s our time na ibigay sa kaniya yung laro, na maglaro kami nang maayos para doon sa import namin na nasaktan,” he said.
Bowles’ status has yet to be determined. Belga and the Elasto Painters are now bracing for whatever may happen in the coming days, but of course they are hoping that the 6-foot-10 slotman’s injury won’t be that serious.
“If worse comes to worst na mangyari kay Denzel, wala naman kaming magagawa. It’s an accident, hindi naman namin mabe-blame ang Alaska with what happened kasi nga hindi naman sinasadya ni Jeron na mangyari yun,” Belga said.
“Let’s just pray na hindi serious.”
