HONG KONG – Former Macau coach Garrett Kelly minced no words about how the team he once handled has been performing in the PBA Governors’ Cup.
The American mentor who once served as deputy to head coach Penny Hardaway at University of Memphis said it is the team’s own doing what it has been going through in its second straight campaign in Asia’s first ever play-for-pay league.
While he wholeheartedly supports his former players in Damian Chongqui and Ramon Cao, Kelly said it’s a pity that they’re playing for a team that has become accustomed to losing.
“New ownership, new sponsor. And they’ve chosen the path that does not really value winning. So it’s unfortunate,” he said at the Kai Tak Sports Park Saturday.
READ: Macau comes back from 19 points down to stun Titan Ultra
Ironically, his comments came just when Macau won its first game in the PBA Governors Cup after beating Titan Ultra, but considering that it was their fourth win in 17 tries across two conferences, Kelly's comment checks out.
Kelly coached the Black Knights in the early goings of the Commissioner’s Cup where they served as guest team, only to have him replaced by former ASEAN Basketball League MVP Marcus Elliot after losing its first three games of the conference.
As claimed by the team back then, Kelly was given the new role as Director of Player Development.
But the American claimed otherwise.
“They fired me,” said a smiling Kelly, who called the shots for Team Macau that placed runner up behind Team Cebu in the championship game of Hustle 5: EASL Future Champions.
Obviously, it was a choice taken by management and stood behind it.
“They’re living it right now. And you can see what’s happening,” the product of Loyola University in Maryland said.
“Not at all. No surprise,” he added when asked if he’s surprised with the way things have been going for the team which now carries the moniker Giant Pandas.
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