For 13 days now, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel have been playing for seven games in their 2017 PBA Philippine Cup playoff run. And it’s starting to wear down the Gin Kings.
After tying the best-of-seven semis series against Star Hotshots at two games apiece, the Barangay dropped the pivotal Game 5 to the Hotshots, 89-80, and are now thrown in yet another tight situation as they are facing a 3-2 deficit.
And for veteran floor general LA Tenorio, the Barangay’s dull focus Friday night got the best of them.
“We were there physically, pero mentally we’re not there. Natalo kami sa game na ‘to kasi we’re not mentally focused 100 percent,” rued Tenorio, who finished with just five points on a dismal 2-for-11 shooting.
“So we really have to be physically and mentally focused heading into the next game. We can’t afford to make mistakes and lapses especially defensively,” the 5-foot-8 floor general added.
Game 5 proved to be a dismal outing for the Barangay, shooting just 42 percent from the floor by hitting 29 of 69 tries. And, nobody except center Japeth Aguilar (13 points) finished in double figures.
The starting five of Aguilar, Tenorio, Jervy Cruz, Chris Ellis and Sol Mercado only scored a total of 38 points on a combined 15-of-37 shooting, a clear indication of a lethargic Friday night.
As a result, the starters were not seen in action during the payoff period, as Ginebra head coach Tim Cone sat them out and opted to use the bench players until the final buzzer sounded.
But for the 10-year pro, Cone benching the starters in the game’s final stretch is a form of his strategy, which is vital for the upcoming Game Six.
“That’s a strategy of Coach Tim. Kilala na namin siya. He knew na this game is hindi talaga para sa amin. Feeling ko yun ang naramdaman niya, so ginawa niya yon for us to be ready for the next game. Kumbaga ni-reserve na rin niya yung energy for the next game,” the Batangueno said.
“Ginagawa niya yun ‘pag alam niyang walang nakukuha sa starters niya, especially how many games na kami in 10 days ‘di ba? Dire-diretso kami. So alam niya na yung starters niya, medyo pagod na rin. Kaya that’s his strategy.”
And Tenorio hopes that this move of Cone for the team will pay-off as they play their seventh game in 13 days on Sunday.
“Hopefully maging fresh kami for the next game — next two games. Alam naman namin na beating Star Hotshots 3 and 0 is gonna be really difficult,” explained the 32-year-old.
“Kung nakuha namin ‘tong game na ‘to, mas okay. Pero beating them three times, medyo mahirap talaga. But we’ll be ready for the next game.”
As Game Six looms, Tenorio believes that the Barangay still has enough to rise back from the 3-2 deficit and pull off an upset, pointing out that situations such as this is nothing new to them.
“Well, we beat them twice, ‘di ba? Two in a row. Eh nandito na kami sa sitwasyon na ‘to Alaska pa lang eh, nung quarterfinals. So hopefully yung focus na ginawa namin that time, magawa namin next game.
“We just have to get the first game. Yun lang yung importante. We’re not looking ahead na talunin sila twice. We need to beat them in the first game, which is next game, Sunday,” vowed Tenorio.
