Season-hosts San Sebastian College-Recoletos Golden Stags were sent to a tougher route to reach the playoffs.
After keeping close with third-running JRU Heavy Bombers in the standings, the Golden Stags have dropped to a 7-8 slate after falling to the same team Friday afternoon, 60-58.
With three more games left to play in their elimination round campaign, San Sebastian has to sweep to at least chase the fourth-running Letran Knights.
Despite the difficult predicament they are in, second-year Stags head coach Egay Macaraya and super senior Michael Calisaan are not panicking, still looking at ways to improve as a team before worrying about the playoffs.
“Kung mananalo pa kami at ma-sweep yung tatlong remaining games, siguro may chance pa kami,” shared Calisaan, who finished with 15 points on 6-for-19 shooting to go along with 13 rebounds.
“Focus lang namin ngayon is ma-improve yung skills at improve at preparation.”
“So far naman sa magaan o sa hinde [na kalaban], ang laro kasi namin eh on-off eh, walang consistency eh,” Macaraya added.
“So it’s much better na mag-focus kami [sa sarili namin] na manalo every game kaysa sa mag-isip sa three remaining games namin na medyo mahirap.”
And the thing the Stags need to improve on according to Macaraya is with regards to their shooting — the Golden Stags’ bread and butter.
“Sayang lang ‘tong JRU kasi nga nagkaroon kami ng chance na manalo eh. Natalo kami dahil sa amin. Shooting 22-percent of the three points, di talaga kami mananalo dun,” he said, “Sa totoo lang lahat ng game namin mahirap talaga kasi wala nga kaming luxury sa lineup.
“Lineup namin maliliit, so finofocus ko sa mga bata, na every game kailangan talaga na ipush natin manalo, kung ano man mangyari, reward na sa amin yun.”
Calisaan though is still hopeful that San Sebastian can still make it to the Final Four.
“Yung confidence naman namin di naman mawawala yun, yun nalang natitirang lakas ng loob namin na may chance pa,” furthered the 6-foot-4 forward.
“Kailangan naming lumaban, di kami susuko.”
By: Danine Cruz
