AS Beau Belga faces another 0-2 deficit, this time in the PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals following a 108-91 beatdown at the hands of TNT, the veteran big man admitted sensing a little bit of déja vu from what they went through just a couple of months ago.
It wasn’t too long ago when the Elasto Painters were one of the hottest teams in the PBA All Filipino Conference following an inspiring run to the semifinals, only to get swept by a veteran San Miguel side in the same round last conference.
Now halfway through being swept by an equally experienced Tropang Giga side, Belga admitted that those thoughts are creeping in.
“May mga ganung idea, pero not really (entertaining it),” Belga shared.
Having felt the unenviable feeling of loss following such a promising campaign for the second straight conference, Belga vows to do everything in his power to avoid the same fate.
“Gusto ko manalo talaga. Makadalawa lang okay na’ko pero I’m really positive of making it to the finals.”
READ: TNT leaves Rain or Shine in 0-2 hole after another blowout win
For the Elasto Painters to turn things around, though, Belga implored his team to be more decisive come Game 3.
While the Elasto Painters limited their turnovers this game to 16 after committing a grand total of 22 in the opener, the 6’5 forward lamented how they didn’t shoot with confidence which allowed TNT to settle its elite defense.
The Elasto Painters made just 32 percent from threes as they made nine of 28 from down town in the loss.
“Sabi lang sa 'min ni coach, wala kaming kumpyansa tumira ng tres. Samantalang kung nasan kami in the elimination round, that’s because of our shooting sa labas tapos yung transition game,” Belga shared.
For Belga, if there’s a time for the Elasto Painters to break through from simply being a good team to an elite, now’s the time to show it.
“Sabi ko nga pag dating ng playoffs, magiiba ang laruan you really need to adjust. Hindi yung kung ano lang ang nilaro namin ng eliminations, hanggang dun nalang kami. Di naman pwede yun.”
While this series is played in best of seven, the two-time PBA champion knows that they’re in a virtual do-or-die game come Game 3 in Dasmarinas, and he’s confident that they’re gonna come out better.
After all, he believes that all they need is just one win to turn this series around.
“Ito na, backs against the wall, 0-2. Mahirap umahon sa 0-3. So we need to do whatever it takes pag dating ng Game 3 sa Dasma,” he shared. “Tingin ko pag maka-isa, magiiba ang laro.”
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