RAIN or Shine gunner Jeff Chan admits a San Mig gambit that had him guarding a taller and heftier Joe Devance was partly to blame for his cold shooting performance in the first half of a 70-80 loss in Game Two of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals on Sunday night.
For the second straight game, the Gilas mainstay struggled to another poor start offensively as he struggled to contain Devance down low in a mismatch which San Mig coach Tim Cone created - and exploited - for much of the first half.
They Said It!
““Parang focus nila post-up ni Devance sa akin, so na-pwersa ako kaya pagdating sa offense, napagod na ako." Rain or Shine shooting guard Jeff Chan
“Parang focus nila post-up ni Devance sa akin, so na-pwersa ako kaya pagdating sa offense, napagod na ako,” said the usually deadly Chan, who scored no more than two points in the first half when San Mig built a sizeable lead that held to the end.
The former Far Eastern University forward from Bacolod did find his range in the second half on the way to a team-high 18 points but by then it was too late as Rain or Shine never came close enough to make a game of it in the endgame.
With the best-of-seven series tied at 1-1, the 30-year-old national player said Rain or Shine will have to go back to the drawing boards and see how they could find a solution to the mismatch to prevent Devance from “bullying” a small defender like him at the post.
One adjustment, Chan said, is to start the bigger Gabe Norwood alongside him so the Fil-American can take on Devance at the low block.
“Iyun (defending Devance) ang gagawan namin ng adjustment in the coming game (Game Three). Siguro, yung ginawa nila ngayon kung magkasabay kami ni Gabe (Norwood), siya na ang magbabantay sa isa sa mga bigger guards nila,” said the left-handed sharpshooter.
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