NOT even a rejuvenated performance in the fourth quarter could make up for Alaska’s sluggish showing in the early goings of Game Three of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals against Rain or Shine on Wednesday night.
Despite the Aces outscoring the Elasto Painters, 36-17, in the payoff period to cut a 23-point deficit to just four points, coach Alex Compton lamented their poor effort in the middle quarters where the Elasto Painters outscored them 67-44.
“Disappointing would be an understatement for our effort in the first half,” Compton said. “Zero excuses for that kind of energy and effort. Rain or Shine really dominated us.”
“I feel there was a stretch there that was the most disappointing stretch of basketball that I recall see Alaska play,” he added. "Second half, we hustled and came back, and that’s great, but the only problem is, you’re supposed to start the game that way.”
[See When it rains, it pours]
Compton was baffled by his team’s sub-part start after being down in the first two games of the best-of-seven series.
“I’m not sure how you don’t show up in Game Three like that,” the American coach said. “It’s nothing we’ve ever talked about and I believe dishonors the game for a team that’s consistently honored it more than any team in the league for the past couple of years.
“We dishonored it for a long stretch today by not playing with the energy that is required,” he added.
And Compton could only hope they simply play better in Game Four on Friday with their backs against the wall.
“I expect us to play harder and more like that team that was trying to come back in the end,” he said.
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