CARLO Lastimosa rued Blackwater’s failure to capitalize on an import-less Tropang TNT side Wednesday night in their PBA Commissioner’s Cup opening game at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Elite, who had a reinforcement in MJ Rhett, lost to the Texters, who missed Ivan Johnson as the import served a one-game suspension for getting involved in an altercation in the offseason.
“Nagi-improve naman kami every conference eh. Sayang lang kasi TNT ang kalaban at wala pa silang import,” Lastimosa said. “Veterans na talaga yung players nila. Sayang talaga.”
“Kulang kami sa aggressiveness nung first half at third quarter,” he added.
Lastimosa, though, was on attack mode throughout the game as he ended up scoring a new career-high of 39 points, including 14 in the final frame where he led a late rally that fell short.
But the scoring feat of the spitfire third-year guard was put to naught.
“Kahit five points (lang ako), basta panalo,” he insisted. “Pero ganun talaga yung laro, may mananalo at matatalo. Bawi na lang next game.”
Lastimosa also cited the adjustment of their own import, who has been with the team for a month, but was so-so in his debut with just 16 points and seven boards in 45 minutes.
“Siguro naga-adjust pa yung import,” Lastimosa said. “Siguro nanibago sa physicality. So far, okay naman pero ngayon di namin alam.”
“Siguro mag-improve pa yan kasi kailangan namin yung tulong niya,” he added. “Sana.”
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