BLACKWATER may be down and out in the race for a quarterfinals berth in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
But that gave the Elite an excuse to simply roll over and die in their last two remaining games.
For doing so against Meralco Friday night at the Mall of Asia Arena, the team expectedly got a big dressing down from coach Bong Ramos following the 27-point blowout, the team’s ninth loss in 10 outings.
“Nagalit ako sa kanila,” said Ramos after emerging from the Blackwater dugout almost an hour after the game. “Walang energy, walang effort. Wala kami sa game today.”
Meralco led from start to finish and at one time, posted a 41-point advantage (93-52) against a listless Blackwater side.
Worse, according to Ramos, the Bolts even beat the Elite at their own game.
“Imagine no. 11 or no. 12 sa fastbreak points yung team na yun (Meralco), pero tinalo kami sa fastbreak, noted the Blackwater coach after seeing his team getting outscored on transition, 20-9. “Kung titignan mo yung hustle, stats, lahat, talo kami.
“Ibig sabihin we came into the game na blanko lahat. Para kaming hindi pumunta sa game.”
Ramos isn’t about to take things away for Meralco, whose sixth win in eighth outings tied it with TnT Katropa for third place and in the running for a top two finish in the race for a quarterfinals berth.
“I don’t want naman na alisin ko sa Meralco yung effort nila, yung preparation nila. This team is one of the strongest in this conference. Kapag ganitong (conference) papasok yung big man nila, balanseng-balanse sila,” he said.
The Elite have one more remaining game in their schedule against defending champion San Miguel on July 4 and Ramos is asking his team to give the Beermen one good fight before they formally close out their campaign.
“Bounce back na better game, Hindi naman bounce back na kailangang manalo kang sigurado,” he said. “Manalo, ok. Kung matalo, basta dikit yung laban, ok nakapag bounce back ka.”