Bong Ramos was a picture of frustration on Friday night as his Blackwater Elite received its’ worst loss so far in the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup: a 37-point beatdown in the hands of Anjo Caram and the Meralco Bolts.
The Elite was far from the team that notched their first-ever win this mid-season conference against the then-skidding Magnolia Hotshots last June 6. They played lackadaisical, to say the least, on both ends of the floor.
For Ramos, Friday’s game made him think as if his team took a step backwards, which had been evident when the Elite allowed the Orangemen to lead by as much as 41, 93-52, with less than eight minutes left to play.
“We were on the right track before this game. Nag-iimprove kami, yung character, yung proseso, nadedevelop,” he recalled. “Pagdating ngayon, walang ka effort-effort, parang nakuntento sa last three games na nag-improve tayo.
“Para akong binitawan sa ere.”
Their run in this year’s Commissioner’s Cup is truly different from their campaigns in the recent conferences. From jockeying for playoff positions, the Elite had suddenly become a doormat team — they started the tilt 0-for-7.
Blackwater has fallen to 1-9 after Friday’s loss. And it might even get worse as their final game of the conference would be against the San Miguel Beermen, who is hard-pressed to defend the throne they had won last season.
Facing a powerhouse is definitely a tall order. But the 57-year-old bench strategist only wants to see a better Blackwater unit in their July 4 match, regardless of the result.
“Sabi ko hindi tayo puwede huminto. We still have one game. We’re playing San Miguel. I want us to play better against San Miguel,” he said. “Bounce back. Bounce back na better game.
“Not na yung bounce back, manalo ka sigurado.”
