In the last two games, Tony Mitchell has been playing far from his usual self since he erupted night in and night out during the Star Hotshots’ four-game winning streak to start the 2017 Commissioner’s Cup.
The 25-year-old out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin still managed to put up import numbers against the Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel Beermen though, averaging 22 points and 10 rebounds despite both him and Star dropping those games.
The numbers were there. But what makes Mitchell unusual to watch as of late is his defense, especially against the other teams’ imports.
It all started back in the Manila Clasico clash last Sunday. He had been tasked to guard import Justin Brownlee, but the latter’s prowess down low made it a long night for him. Brownlee scored 30 points all over him as a result.
With him already frustrated and struggling to contain his man — who is just an inch shorter than him — Mitchell’s ears also received a beating with the referees’ whistles, finishing the game with five morale-crushing fouls.
And this Easter Sunday against the Beermen, Mitchell’s sluggishness on defense was exposed once more as he failed to lock down SMB import Charles Rhodes, who unloaded a career-best 29 markers and 10 rebounds.
As in his previous game, it was fouls that got the best of him. But this time, he had six fouls, and he was booted out of the game after committing a foul on the 6-foot-8 center out of Galveston, Texas, with 2:49 remaining.
Both losses are enough to drag the former NBA player’s confidence down. He even politely declined a short interview with the media after the match — a clear message that even he could not put into words what is happening to him.
But despite this rough stretch of Mitchell, there is still his head coach Chito Victolero, who remains a believer in the American reinforcement.
“Kailangan niya lang to learn from those mistakes,” said the 41-year-old tactician of Mitchell shortly after the Hotshots’ 103-97 defeat to SMB at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
“Kailangan lang niya mag-improve kasi kailangan namin siya eh.”
Victolero really needs his reinforcement at this point of the conference, especially now that the Hotshots are without three of their key players — Marc Pingris, Justin Melton, and Aldrech Ramos due to injuries.
“Right now, maraming may injuries, kailangan niya lang mag-step up in both ends lalo na sa opensa. Madami na talagang may injury, so kailangan na namin yung presence niya ngayon,” Victolero admitted.
With Mitchell now at a low point, Victolero sees the need for him to do his job as a coach — to lift up Mitchell and help him regain his old self, that is.
“I will talk to him na kailangan niyang mag-step up pa para maka-pantay sa mga import ng kalaban,” shared the first-year coach.
“Usap lang. Kailangan lang natin i-motivate yan. Meron naman eh, andyan naman siya. Kailangan lang natin kausapin at bigyan pa ng motivation. Positibo lang tayo.”
