Unperturbed Ginebra coach Ato Agustin sees light at the end of tunnel

GINEBRA coach Ato Agustin is asking for more patience and understanding in the midst of the Kings’ slow start in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

The returning coach believes it’s only a matter of time before the talent-laden team will finally get its act together.

And all it would take is just a breakthrough win in the midseason tournament.

“Our problem is how we execute our plays. Minsan sabog talaga,” admitted Agustin, who took over the coaching chores from Jeff Cariaso before the start of the conference, following a 68-69 loss at the hands of Barako Bull on Sunday night in Binan, Laguna.

“Yun siguro 'yung gagawin pa namin sa practice. Natatalo kasi ngayon, pero kapag nakuha na namin yung first win, tuluy-tuloy na 'yun.”

One rare bright spot for Ginebra on Sunday was a late fightback that saw the team battle back from eight points down in the final three minutes and nearly steal the win in the final seconds.

Agustin definitely liked what he saw in the team’s fightback entering the homestretch.

“Yun ang napag-usapan namin. Kailangan at the start pa lang, parang ganun,” said Agustin, revealing what he and the team talked about after emerging from their dugout following an hour-long meeting.

“Pag nag-on sila gagawin talaga nila parang 'nung last three minutes na we were down by eight at nag-depensa kami ng pressure. Go hard, naging one point na lang. If magagawa namin yun from the start of the game, mas maganda magiging resulta,” he added.

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Joseph Yeo, who earlier hit a clutch trey that pushed Ginebra within 69-68, couldn’t win it for the Kings as he missed a game-winning three-pointer in the Kings’ final possession.

The Kings shot a miserable 31 percent from the field including a 4-of-19 clip from beyond the arc.

“Our shots weren’t falling,” Agustin said while shrugging his shoulders.

Despite the loss, Agustin still credited the team for its work on defense.

“Hindi na masama ‘yung team defense namin kasi Barako only scored 69 points. Hindi lang ma-swertehan ‘yung first win. Kailangan pa rin namin ‘yung individual defense especially after Chico Lanete scored 17 points,” noted the Ginebra coach.