ANTIPOLO CITY – Amid the losses in the PBA Philippine Cup, Bong Ramos sees rookie Abu Tratter as one of the silver linings in Blackwater’s campaign.
Tratter had a career-high 24 points and eight rebounds in a 114-95 rout of the Elite by league-leading Phoenix Friday night at the Ynares Center.
The no. 7 pick in last year’s draft also had four steals and was 8-of-11 from the field in the team’s third loss in four outings.
But despite the numbers going for naught, Ramos had nothing but high praise for his rookie big man.
“He’s our most consistent player,” he said of Tratter, whose averaging 15.5 points and 7.5 rebounds.
“He’s coachable. Hindi ka makakarining ng anumang angal. Nakikinig. Maganda yung ginawang pagpapalaki ng mga magulang niya sa kanya,” said the Blackwater coach.
Its woes compounded by poor shooting, Blackwater trailed by as many as 25 in the second quarter and by as much as 85-48 in the second half.
Tratter tried to bring the team back in the fourth quarter when he made 14 points, although the deficit proved too much to overcome for this young Elite team.
“Kapag ganun kalayo (ang hinabol mo ang hirap). Pero we tried our best,” said Ramos.
“But sabi ko nga sa kanila, we can’t start like that. Malakas na nga ang Phoenix ganun pa ang start natin. Hindu puwede yun,” added Ramos.
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