Prior to facing Columbian for their 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup match Saturday, Phoenix head coach Louie Alas had warned his Fuel Masters that they should not be deceived by the lowly standing of the young Dyip.
“Sabi ko, yung standing niya, ‘wag tayong tumingin diyan. Kasi, hindi dapat ganiyan yung standing niyan. Ilan ang close games niyan,” the seasoned mentor said.
“If you will think na maglalaro lang yan, magro-roll over para matalo, hindi.”
Apparently, his troops didn’t take into heart the warning he had told them.
The Fuel Masters bowed, 98-100, no thanks to the game-winning teardrop made by guard Reden Celda with 9.3 seconds left to play that came off a huge chasedown block by wingman Glenn Khobuntin to RJ Jazul.
But for Alas, it wasn’t those huge plays by Columbian and its missed shot in the final seconds that finished Phoenix. He believes that the Fuel Masters have already lost in the second quarter, where they got outscored by the Dyip 27-13.
“Actually hindi naman kami natalo noong last possession eh. Natalo kami noong second quarter. We played akala mo defending champions kami na basta pinush namin yung switch, mag-o-okay,” lamented Alas.
“Lahat ng ikinatalo namin, lahat ng nasa scouting report: transition points, turnovers. Sa second quarter alone, we had eight turnovers tapos ang ginive up naming transition points is seventeen. That’s the story of the game.”
The loss ended Phoenix’s two-game winning streak, dropping them to sixth with a 4-5 card. Had they won, they would be at the upper half of the ranks and would have had a chance for a better spot in the quarters.
“Kung nanalo kami, yung isang paa namin nandoon na sa quarters at naga-aspire pa kami for the mid-pack, sa best-of-three,” said the outspoken bench strategist. “Wasted opportunity. Super wasted opportunity.
“We blew it.”
Now, Phoenix will have to sweep their remaining games to assure themselves of a spot in the playoffs. But Alas said that it won’t be easy, as they will be facing the San Miguel Beermen and the also-ran NLEX Road Warriors.
“Ngayon we have to face San Miguel na sobrang galing ng import and we have to face NLEX na nagbago rin ng import,” said Alas, as San Miguel now has Chris McCullough in tow while NLEX has been parading Olu Ashaolu.
However, the 55-year-old coach is trying to be as positive as he can. He hopes that their stinging defeat to the Dyip will serve as a wake-up call for the Fuel Masters and fire them up as they try to make this last push into the playoffs.
“Ang inaano ko ngayon, turning negative into positive na baka mas maiging matalo na kami ngayon para magising kami sa last two games namin. Kasi ‘pag nanalo pa rin kami ng back-to-back doon, nandoon pa rin kami sa mid-pack.”
