Is Purefoods still feeling the effects of a grand slam hangover?
“Siguro nga,” Marc Pingris, Purefoods veteran forward, told media after the game. “Ibang-iba kasi laro namin this conference. Kailangan siguro pagaksayahan namin ng panahon talaga ito sa practice.”
The Hotshots have won back-to-back games to climb their way back to a .500 win-loss mark, but the team has not been the same since winning four straight championships, capped by a historic triple crown last season.
According to Pingris, the team has yet to play better as a unit. Offensively, they’ve been relying on talent. Talent was enough to win games against newcomer Blackwater, which even beat Purefoods in one important department – rebounding.
“Parang hindi naming nirespeto yung Blackwater. Ang sabi sa amin ni Coach, kahit sinong kalaban namin, kailangan irespeto namin dahil nageensayo rin yung mga yan. Kita mo na, talo kami sa rebound,” added Pingris.
The Elite outhustled the Hotshots in the battle of the boards, 54-39.
Several times, the newcomer squad had the more experienced Hotshots on the ropes.
Veteran coach Tim Cone admitted his players were lucky enough the Elite were not able to capitalize. “They missed some shots that could’ve gotten them over the hump, it could be closer than it was,” said Cone.
