GAMBOA playing coach Leo Avenido suffered a double whammy as he sustained a cut above his right eye before the Coffee Lovers bowed to erstwhile winless AMA Online Education, 66-67, in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup on Tuesday.
Avenido was on the receiving end of Embons Bonleon's elbow early in the fourth period but the veteran cager returned with 3:15 left to do the heavy lifting for the Coffee Lovers.
But the Titans still went on to nab their first win behind Bonleon, Jaycee Asuncion, and Andre Paras.
But the 38-year-old cager shrugged off the loss - their fifth in six matches - as well as the cut, while heaping praise on the young Titans for their relentless effort from start to finish.
"Medyo malas, breaks lang ng game," said Avenido, who got an apology from Bonleon after the match at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
"Hindi mo rin matatawaran puso ng kalaban. Lapses din namin kasi nung lamang kami, medyo relax kami kasi bata kalaban, hanggang sa pumutok yung Bonleon, Subido, Asuncion, at Paras."
[See Bonleon shows way as AMA Online beats Gamboa Coffee for first win in Foundation Cup]
As painful as the loss was to the younger squad, Avenido said it's all part of the process.
"Sakin lalo, (masakit sa) pride ko. Ayokong magpatalo ng ganun ganun lang. Pero basketball e, di mo pwedeng sabihing 'ah mananalo tayo dito,'" he said.
"Ano mang outcome, pag-aaralan lang san nagkamali. Learning process rin sakin as coach. Dapat yung mga ganun naipapanalo namin kasi mga beterano kami."
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