The Star Hotshots headed to the exit doors of the 2017 Commissioner’s Cup Friday night, after losing to the mighty San Miguel Beermen in Game Four of their best-of-five semifinal series at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Their loss in the series is tough to accept. They showed flashes that they can take down one of the league’s giants after winning Game One, but unlucky breaks during end-game situations in the next three games got the best of them, losing by just an average margin of 2.67 points in the last three games.
But for import Ricardo Ratliffe, who carried much of the load for Star all throughout the series with norms of 32.75 points and 23.0 rebounds, he felt that the team still fought San Miguel the way they should.
“It was good, it was decent. We fought hard. We still got a new team, a young team, and a new coach. They went to the semis last conference so I feel that it’s better to at least stay the same,” shared the 28-year-old Hampton, Virginia-native.
“I’m just proud of the guys. I feel they did a great job and I look forward to coming back and try to help the team again.”
Furthermore, the 6-foot-8 power forward, who confirmed that he will be back next year, said that the Hotshots only need more time to develop to be able to reach their fullest potential.
“We still just grow. We’re still trying learn each other. We still just gotta mesh as a team and they got next conference in the Governors’ Cup and the All-Filipino again, so by the time I get back for the next Commissioner’s Cup, I feel that things will be alright and everybody will be meshed together.
“The only person that would need to get meshed is me,” elaborated the five-year pro, who has been a fixture in the Korean Basketball League.
Still, Ratliffe did not forget to give credit where credit is due. He had high praises for the Beermen, even calling their rivals as the PBA’s version of the San Antonio Spurs with their caliber.
“Those guys are a team,” said the product of University of Missouri. “It’s hard to beat a team like that. They’re kinda like the San Antonio Spurs — everybody knows each other, they’ve won a lot of championships together.
“We can only look up to a team like that and just look forward to being that in the future.”
