The Cafe France-Centro Escolar University Bakers were just 19 seconds away from going 2-1 in the best-of-five 2016 PBA D-League Aspirants Cup Finals Thursday afternoon at the Ynares Sports Centre in Pasig City.
The Phoenix-Far Eastern University Accelerators were playing desperately as they were able to cut a 12 point deficit into just two with 19 seconds remaining. After a Cafe France timeout, head coach Egay Macaraya tasked Carl Cruz to take the free throws as the Accelerators played the foul game.
However, Cruz missed both free throws that led to a game-winning three-pointer from 27 feet by RR Pogoy as Phoenix-FEU took a 2-1 series lead in the finals.
Carl Cruz (Photo courtesy of PBA Images)
“I trusted Bryan to receive the ball because I know he’s going to be fouled,” Macaraya said as he took the blame for the loss.
Cruz was superb in Game Two of the Finals in scoring 18 points and grabbing nine boards. “In our last game, Bryan was superb and I chose him to get the ball at that moment. Nag-mintis siya and it was my fault,” the head coach rued as Cruz was just 4/11 in the third game for nine markers.
“It could be anybody, but it was Bryan who I chose. It was the breaks of the game. Wala na tayong magagawa.”
Looking forward to a do-or-die Game Four, Macaraya is just hoping for the best to extend the series to a winner-take-all Game Five. “Even though this was a sorry loss, I don’t think ibibigay ng boys ‘yung series na ito so we’ll try our best to bounce back,” he closed.
Game Four is set to be played on Tuesday, April 12 at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City at 3:00pm. An awarding ceremony is set to be held prior to the game to award the Aspirants’ Cup Most Valuable Player at 2:45 p.m.
