For the first time this season, the College of Saint Benilde Blazers had a packed crown cheering them on. However, what was supposed to be a sure-win on paper ended up as a disaster, as the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals – a team who had nothing to lose – ended up with a 69-67 stunner.
That defeat was the Blazers’ third in four games, dropping them to fifth place in the standings.
Ten games into the season, CSB – a team that last made the post-season back in Season 78 – had been perched in the top four with a 7-3 record.
What came next might be called a meltdown.
“I think it’s the mindset that we have now, I think it’s an immature mindset. It’s something that is new to us in this situation wherein we are playing close games,” lamented second-year Blazers coach TY Tang.
“Given the situation that we have chances to make it to the Final Four, I think that was what’s bothering us lately and it’s been distracting our minds in our team. I think that we’re still not able to still handle that well enough.”
After the game last Friday, Tang and his staff gave the Blazers a long talk, as their current skid is concerning. Though they were able to defeat the now-fourth-running Perpetual Altas in back-to-back games, the team lost to the San Sebastian Golden Stags, the Mapua Cardinals, and EAC – three of the bottom four teams in the league.
“I just want them realize our situation. Going back to the end of the first round wherein we were really up there. All of a sudden, things kind of just scrambled upon our walls.
“Again, at this stage, the past few years, I don’t know where their minds are. I think at this point in time, they might be thinking of going on a vacation already after their last game. Right now, it’s just different,” opined the youthful tactician. “We are in a situation to make it to the next round. It might just be that. That’s again distracting us and tempting us for where our minds are supposed to be. So, it’s something that we need to work on.”
Though disappointed, Tang is not giving up on his squad. Even if they have a tough task ahead of them as they face the top three teams of the league, he is hoping the Blazers will fight valiantly to keep their chances.
“Everything happens for a reason. Maybe, we need more time. It’s a long process for us and we have to keep on trusting that, believing that we will one day get there in that journey,” the former collegiate and pro basketball champion said.
“Again, if not this year then next year or next, next year. Whenever it is in the future, we will go back to this day and try to remind ourselves about what we did. If we don’t make it this year – if it’s not within our destiny, it’s on our own control that we let go off,” he added.
“But nothing’s over yet. There’s still more games to come. We just need to keep winning, trying to strive harder. At this point, we are not giving up. We are still fighting hard for that berth.”
