MAPUA’s six-game winning streak was resting on the totally able hands of veteran guard Cyrus Cuenco as he sized up Raffy Celiz on the top of the key, the Cardinals trailing the CSB Blazers by two, 71-69.
Cuenco, who previously hit two crucial threes in the quarter and three clutch free throws before this, decided to roll the dice and take a contested three for the win which missed the mark as the Blazers held on to the win.
But for coach Chito Victolero, he’ll live and die with his main man
“He’s my closer. It’s up to him kung paano niya [didiskartehan]. Meron naman sinusundan kaming guide e, sa plays namin sa end game. So it’s up to him kung kanino mas mainit, and it will start on Cyrus. It was a tough shot for him but we’ll live and die with him,” Victolero said.
READ: St. Benilde arrests two-game slide by ending Mapua's red-hot run
Instead of pinning this loss to his players, the former PBA champion coach took responsibility for the loss — admitting that he needs to do a better job in putting his players in more favorable positions in the end game.
“It was again a tough loss. I think marami kaming mali sa dulo, offensively and defensively. Marami kaming miscommunications and it cost us the game, yung mga maliliit na mali namin sa depensa. So hopefully, ma-correct namin yun sa aming next practices,” he said.
“Yung end game ang importante e, we know that it will be a close game, that it will be a grinding game.”
“It’s my fault, and I think we’ll have to be more ready next time. Kailangan pa maging sharp yung mga players ko. So I need to explain to them better yung mas maayos pa na execution. We need to move forward because we have another game on Thursday,” he continued.
The loss sent the Cardinals down to fourth place in Group A with a 6-4 record, in danger of missing an outright quarterfinals spot with three games remaining in the group phase.
And it will not get any easier for Victolero and the Cardinals as up next for them are the San Beda Red Lions on Thursday
But Victolero is confident that if they continue to play cohesive basketball, they have a chance to rise above this loaded group stage.
“Wala naman akong sinabi. Just two words. Stay together. Nakita ko naman na binigay nila lahat. Yun naman ang pinagusapan namin, that they give their best effort and win or lose, we stay together. Let’s just rest for tonight, then we’ll prepare tomorrow,” he said.
“Ganyan naman yan e. We talk about the highs and lows, it’s a tough loss but we have to move forward. We don’t need na malungkot, na maging down, but tomorrow’s another day.”
“Sabi ko nga sa inyo, we were good in September, but we were better in October. Going into this November battle we need to be better pa. We need to be great by November.”
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