In a series that is just separated by an average margin of just 2.0 points, the Star Hotshots could have been up 2-1 — or could have even booked their ticket to the Finals on Wednesday night. However, looking back at Game 2 (a game the Hotshots lost 76-77) and Game 3 (a 110-111 loss), Star could not just catch the end-game breaks.
And first-year Star head coach Chito Victolero knows this.
“Parang sinuwerte sila sa bola. I think para sa kanila yun,” a dejected Victolero said about Marcio Lassiter’s game-winner. “Siguro ‘di naman papasok yun kung ‘di para sa kanila.
“Nandun yung depensa, nandun lahat — ultimo challenge ni Justin nandon din kaso pumasok pa rin so para sa San Miguel talaga.”
With 13.6 ticks left, Ricardo Ratliffe was able to score his 44th point of the game, a hook shot over rival Charles Rhodes that gave Star the advantage, 110-108. But Lassiter’s banker went in and they had no timeouts left to even draw up a play afterwards.
Still, the 41-year-old mentor needs to stay strong in front of his team, as they are now in a win-or-go-home predicament come Friday.
“We cannot dwell on that. Kailangan lang namin mag-move forward, mag-move on,” the native of Sta. Maria, Bulacan stressed.
“Kumbaga parang na-breakan ako ng girlfriend ko, nasaktan ako, so kailangan namin mag-move forward diba?
“Hindi puwedeng yung experience na ‘to laging nasa minds namin. Kailangan namin matulog ngayon and prepare for tomorrow’s practice and kalimutan na ‘to. I know mahirap kalimutan, pero kailangan namin gawin,” he furthered.
And in order to combat luck, Victolero believes that they need to exert more effort.
“Sabi ko nga sa mga players ko, ‘we need to have better effort,” the Mapua alumnus said.
“Yung effort namin okay na eh, kaya lang nagkulang pa rin. Talo pa rin kami. Siguro kailangan pa namin mag-step up sa effort namin.”
