Jose Rizal University head coach Gio Lasquety was left baffled with the Heavy Bombers’ lack of will after a third straight defeat in the PBA D-League, Thursday afternoon at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Having won two straight to begin their campaign, the Mandaluyong-based cagers suddenly found themselves in a whirlwind. Their third straight loss was dealt by Che’lu-San Sebastian Revellers, 74-67.
“Wala naman kaming binabago simula nung umpisa — yung defense namin ganun pa rin,” said Lasquety. “Ang pinagkaiba lang talaga… Yung effort and willingness ng mga players to play defense and sumunod sa pinapagawa.
“Yun yung nakikita namin na nawawala lagi, yung willingness and effort ng mga players, kung lalaro ba sila ng depensa o hindi.”
JRU’s poor work on defense translated into the stat sheet, as the Revellers made nine triples and scored 17 points off fastbreaks. Even Chélu’s bench made a mark in the win, as they added 40 markers to their total.
Though their latest setback was the most disappointing, the former Heavy Bombers will simply charge this one to experience.
“Sa game na to kesa dun sa dalawang last game namin, I think siguro naman may nakuha kami — both coaches and players,” said Lasquety. “Yun lang naman ang importante sa’min eh. We’re not asking them na manalo every game.
“Lagi lang namin sinasabi sa kanila na gusto namin yung lumaban, just give a decent game, and make sure to gain something sa laro,” he added.
“Sumali kami ng D-League to gain experience para sa mga new players.”
Moreover, Lasquety stuck to the positives he saw in the defeat that brought them down to 1-3, lauding players such as Jarvy Ramos and usual providers MJ Dela Virgen and Jed Mendoza for stepping up.
“Si John Grospe may sakit siya kaya di siya nakapaglaro last game tsaka ngayon, tapos si Jeckster Apinan kanina natamaan sa ilong. So yung mga big guys namin like Ramos, yun yung good side na nakita namin,” said Lasquety.
“Tapos mga guards namin [sina Aaron] De Guzman, MJ [Dela Virgen], as usual, [Mark] Yu and Jed [Mendoza], yung mga guards na maglalaro sa NCAA, nakikita namin na nagi-improve sila, naa-adapt nila yung sistema namin.”
JRU will have a chance to end their slump against the Batangas-EAC Generals, who are still winless in four games. But even if they have the clear advantage, Lasquety doesn’t want his players to think that it will be a walk in the park.
“Ayokong ilagay sa isip nila na dahil pareho kaming nasa baba eh kaya namin silang talunin,” said the youngest head coach in D-League history. “I told them na every game kailangan laruin natin kung paano tayo maglaro.
“‘Wag natin tignan sino nasa harapan natin. Kung tingin natin kayang-kaya natin, laruin natin ng maayos, ‘di yung magiging complacent tayo and magre-relax tayo. [Kung hindi] tatalunin tayo niyan.”
