Nick Rakocevic proved that he’s a man of his word by keeping his emotions in check and, more importantly, avoiding another premature exit in Game Two of Magnolia’s PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinal duel versus Ginebra, Friday.
The Serbian workhorse vowed to the Hotshots that he’ll finish the game unlike in the series opener last Wednesday, which saw him hit the showers in the third quarter following an F1 and a technical foul in their eventual 87-83 defeat.
He fulfilled his promise, and went on to help his side eke out the 96-95 victory to even the best-of-five affair at one game apiece.
“Game One, you know, I got ejected. I lost my temper, I lost my composure and my team ended up losing. It hurt in my heart, it hurt me in my soul and knowing I couldn’t do anything about it,” Rakocevic reflected shortly after the game.
“So, I made sure that I did whatever I could to stay on the floor today. You know, I made them a promise that it wouldn’t happen again and I apologized to them so it’s not gonna happen again,” added the 24-year-old.
Not only did he do what he said he would, Rakocevic turned in a monster outing as well. He finished with 23 points and 20 rebounds for his fourth 20-20 performance — that, after leaving Game One with a career-low 10 points.
“I thank my teammates, I thank my coaches, the fans, everybody who put their faith in me again,” said the 6-foot-10 forward out of USC.
“I told them I was gonna do that (bounce-back game) and for them to trust me and for me to show it, it just shows how I am as a person. You know, I’m gonna bounce back and when I make a promise, I keep it,” he added.
By showing that he can manage himself and focus on playing and playing only, Magnolia head coach Chito Victolero has faith that his prized reinforcement will no longer allow ejections whatsoever from happening again the rest of the way.
“He learned from that. He learned and he’s getting matured. Credit to him, because, you know, coming from that game, yeah nakapag-ano siya, nakapag muni-muni siya ngayon,” the champion mentor said.
“It’s a blessing for us. You know, I know it will happen. I don’t know when. Since our last two games in the eliminations and quarterfinal, I know it will happen. That’s why lagi kaming nagpapaalala sa kanya — reminders, everything.
“Parang nakikita ako na dadating eh. And I feel it’s a blessing, because it happened early in Game One. I think it will not happen again, throughout the playoffs,” added the one-time Coach of the Year.
Game Three of the Clasico semis is on Sunday and Rakocevic is expecting another grind-out affair, but staying composed, he believes, will be key.
“It’s gonna be hard. It’s gonna be aggressive, it’s gonna be tough, it’s gonna be physical. It’s gonna be games like that, you know what I mean? But we just got to stay composed and play our game and I think we will be fine,” he said.
