Ian Sangalang admitted that he and the Magnolia Hotshots can’t always rally back and think that they can score a come-from behind win, especially against a team such as the reigning, three-time All-Filipino champions San Miguel Beermen, in the 2018 Philippine Cup Finals.
There were flashes Game One — where the Hotshots completed the comeback from 20 down — in Game Two on Sunday night, as Magnolia were able to reduce a 21-point deficit to just seven, 68-75, with over eight minutes left to play.
But the finish wasn’t the same, as the Beermen did not let up this time, responding with 10 unanswered points to keep their rivals at bay and coast to the series-tying 92-77 victory.
“Hindi puwedeng laging ganun,” rued Sangalang after the match at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. “Kanina nag-11-0 run kami. Mahihirapan kami ‘pag ganun ang mangyayari.
“Dapat hindi na pwede lumamang ang San Miguel.”
“Hindi namin pwedeng laging ganun, eh experienced team yan, champion team yang San Miguel eh,” echoed head coach Chito Victolero. “Yung character niyan buo. Kapag ganun lagi na maghahabol kami, hindi namin masu-sustain talaga.”
Even Sangalang hadn’t been able to replicate his Game One showing on Sunday. He was Friday night’s biggest star when he had a career-best 29 points, but in Game Two, he was limited to just 11 markers.
“Pagdating ko sa poste, nagco-collapse sila,” said Sangalang of the way he got defended. “May naghe-help sa gilid, kada dribble ko may tumatapik.”
His counterpart, reigning Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo, was also limited, as he only had 12 points with 13 boards — far from his performance in Game One, where he unloaded 31 points and 18 rebounds.
But for Sangalang, the Kraken’s so-so outing did not play much of a factor, as his fellow Beermen — Arwind Santos (24 points), Marcio Lassiter (16 points), and Alex Cabagnot (15 points) — were all on point offensively.
“Na-limit namin si June Mar, yung shooters naman ang nakaka-shoot,” said the 26-year-old slotman.
“[At] Kailangan may game-plan kami sa pick-and-roll nila. Kailangan ma-review namin kung ano yung dapat gawin. Mahirap yung June Mar-Cabagnot o June Mar-Lassiter. Kailangan may panlaban kami dun.”
