FOR Cagayan Valley head coach Alvin Pua, it was a matter of NLEX making its shots and his Rising Suns missing theirs.
“Wala akong masabi,” said Pua after the Road Warriors put up an impressive shooting display in Game One.
The Road Warriors shot 33-of-65 from the field en route to their lopsided 87-63 win over the Rising Suns to inch closer to their fourth straight crown.
“Kahit naman anong bato ng NLEX kanina - jump shot, tear drop, at foul shot - pumapasok,” said Pua.
In contrast, the Rising Suns made only 32.4 percent (22-of-68) of their shots from the field and went just 15-of-38 from the free throw line.
“Off ang shooting namin. And then, ’yung foul shots namin, 24 ang na-miss namin,” said Pua.
Prior to the series, NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez said that Cagayan Valley epitomized the personality of their head coach, a hard-nosed defender when he played in the NCAA and for a while in the PBA.
But Pua noticed that the Rising Suns’ defensive intensity was lacking in Game One.
“Sa depensa namin, hindi sila magka-amuyan sa defensive strategy namin,” said Pua.
Despite the one-sided loss, Pua hopes to even things in Game Two on Tuesday at the San Juan Arena as he reminded his wards that the series isn’t over.
“Heads up lang, hindi pa naman tapos,” said the former San Sebastian Stag. With reports from Mei-Lin Lozada
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
