Coming off a Game One high, Jay-R Taganas and the Che’Lu Revellers were looking to ride it Tuesday afternoon.
But all they got was an 81-105 beatdown at the hands of the Go for Gold Scratchers.
The Revellers were still in the ballgame early; they even had leads over the Scratchers, until the latter went unconscious in the third frame and unloaded 28 points to end the period in their favor, 73-58, and never look back.
The best-of-five title series is now tied at one game apiece.
“Siguro sa effort [nagkatalo] kasi nung second half medyo pagod na, parang nawala yung effort namin para maglaro,” said the wide-bodied Taganas, who had 11 rebounds, five points, two assists, and two steals in the loss.
Given the former San Beda Red Lion’s assessment, Che’lu played far from the way they did back in Game One last week, when they clawed their way back from a 14-point hole in the third canto to emerge with the 100-96 victory.
So for Taganas, he hopes to see the same spirit his Revellers displayed back in Game One, as they aim to regain the series lead in Game Three on Thursday.
“Ibalik lang namin nung Game One yung laro namin nung second half, so parang ‘pag ginawa namin yung laro namin nung second half last game, may tsansa kami manalo next game tsaka sa mga susunod na laro,” said the 6-foot-4 big man, who had gone undrafted in the 2010 Rookie Draft.
“So yun lang, kailangan lang namin ibalik yung laro namin, yung effort namin, gawin lang namin yung dati naming ginagawa para manalo.”
Che’lu is pressed to win the coveted crown this time around after failing to do so last conference. They had the chance to win the 2018 Aspirants’ Cup title, but they lost hold of a 1-0 series lead and bowed to the Zark’s-Lyceum Jawbreakers.
The 30-year-old has expressed his desire to win another D-League title, as the last time he won was years ago with the NLEX Road Warriors. But he’s not just doing it for himself, but for Che’lu head coach Stevenson Tiu as well.
The two have cherished championships together back in the Pilipinas Commercial Basketball League not so long ago for Jumbo Plastic, and for Taganas, it would be sweet if they could win in the D-League, too.
“Sobrang gigil kasi yun nga, matagal na, mga ilang taon na rin yun … Si coach Steve, dito sa D-League, ‘di pa nagcha-champion, so kailangan kong tulungan para makuha namin championship.”
