BAY Area coach Brian Goorjian said his team did a better job of playing within how the game was called and the level of physicality that was allowed on Wednesday during Game Two of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
Goorjian said the Dragons were able to limit their fouls by defending within the rules of the league, something that he said was absent in the Game One loss to the Gin Kings on Christmas Day.
The result was a 99-82 win that levelled the best-of-seven finals at 1-1 heading into the New Year break.
“You go into this game, the game is about easy baskets, offensive rebounds, and putbacks and putting team together on the foul line. Tonight, we defended without fouling. We made adjustments according to the PBA rules of playing D without fouling,” said Goorjian during the postgame press conference.
Even after the Game Two win, Goorjian clarified the Dragons never complained about the officiating in the PBA, saying that it is his job and that of the team to adjust to the rules and the calls of the league being the guest team.
Goorjian made the statement amid reactions to interviews he granted after their 96-81 loss in Game One where he said Bay Area needed to adjust to the physicality and the calls in the finals series.
Goorjian made it clear that the team is not making excuses for their Game One defeat, acknowledging that the Dragons were beaten soundly in Game One by Ginebra after they were not able to adjust to the physicality.
“Everything is a first. First road game. First hotel meal. First basket. First final game. We are in a series, it’s your country, the PBA… That was our first game in a finals series,” said Goorjian.
“We didn’t complain about the referees. All we tried to do was figure out how the game is going to be called and make adjustments. That was my job in between games,” Goorjian said.
Goorjian also clarified that no one from the team is injured or sick prior to Game One.
“No one on our team is sick. No one in our team is hurt. There are no excuses. They kicked our ass,” said Goorjian.
After the disappointing series opener and the win on Wednesday, Goorjian is confident the Dragons would be able to play adjust to the officiating in the finals.
“Moving forward, we have to stay in that page,” said Goorjian.
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