ASI Taulava played down his offensive outburst in NLEX’s 103-93 loss to Mahindra, on Friday night in the PBA Philippine Cup.
The Road Warriors star slotman scattered 31 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter, where he carried his team on his shoulders as they made a late rally that proved too little too late.
“I guess we got down so big that I started posting everybody up,” Taulava said. “But that shouldn’t be the point. Everybody should be working together.”
Still, it was a remarkable effort for the league’s oldest player as it was the 42-year-old center’s highest scoring output in eight years, or since scoring 32 for Coca-Cola against Welcoat last December 16, 2007.
[See Canaleta, Ramos draw motivation from beating former team NLEX]
“I’d rather have two points and more assists and win the game than me having to force my way in and have to score and put myself in a position like that,” said Taulava, who made 11 of his 14 shots and added nine boards, one assist, and one block in 32 minutes.
“It’s not healthy for me in the long run where I have to exert myself in the post,” he stressed. “I’d be much happier if my team played together and found ways to make stops.”
The Road Warriors allowed the Enforcers to register a solid 48-percent clip (40-of-83) from the field.
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