PAGADIAN, ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR—BYB Kapatagan advanced to the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup Mindanao Challenge semifinals, Saturday.
But head coach Jaime Rivera was not a happy man after the Buffalos’ 64-60 win over Basilan BRT at the Pagadian City Gymnasium.
Ahead by 19, 62-43, after the mandatory timeout at the 4:53 mark of the payoff period, the Buffalos collapsed.
The Peace Riders uncorked 14 straight points, courtesy of Jorem Morada and Jayvee Ansaldo, to inch within five with 39.7 seconds left, 57-62.
Luckily for Kapatagan, Gayford Rodriguez and Garexx Puerto made crucial splits from the free throw line to cement their place in the semifinals.
“Relax na kasi sila pagkatapos noong mandatory timeout,” lamented Rivera.
“Sinabi ko naman sa kanila na huwag mag-relax hangga’t hindi pa nagba-buzzer. Kaya nga nagalit ako sa mga players ko kasi nag kumpyansa sila.”
But the head tactician is thankful that despite the meltdown, they were still able to snag the win, and hopefully, his wards learn something out of it.
The Buffalos will face hometown heroes Pagadian bolstered by its fans on Monday at 6:30 pm in the knockout semis.
In their two matchups in the preliminary round, Kapatagan took the first round, 69-62. Then the Explorers nabbed the second round, 79-67.
“Mag film viewing kami para maipakita ko sa players ‘yung mga lapses namin para sa next game, madala nila ‘yung learnings. Hindi na mag kumpyansa,” he said.
“Laban lang kami. Laban lang palagi!”
