CHICAGO— After a 53-day break, I had hoped that the long absence would make my affinity with the PBA grow fonder.
No such luck.
Because the Season 50 Governors’ Cup resumed on Wednesday with two unwatchable games that made fans wish they had cataracts on both eyes.
SOURCES SAY Macau Giant Pandas turn sitting ducks
In the first game of a double-header at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, NLEX scored the most lopsided beating in PBA history by hammering Macau, 138-78.
That mismatch ended as soon as it began, 35-23 after one quarter and 70-43 at halftime.
OVERMATCHED.
Macau got overwhelmed in bench production, 46-7, and were ran over in the open court with a 62-7 disadvantage in fastbreak points.
Oscar Lopez and Koby Lam provided a semblance of resistance for the Giant Pandas with a combined 58 points, but with only nine players on their roster they had no chance against a playoffs team that hit 53 of 108 total field goals.
With a 2-6 won-lost record and an almost zero chance of advancing beyond the elimination round, you have to wonder if Macau would still put together a full roster and show interest in winning.
With three games left on their schedule, I doubt it.
Macau’s brazen lack of commitment— players departing for the EASL and their coach staying back in the US supposedly for a “personal matter “ — is problematic.
NO LONGER WELCOME?
Guest team invites in the PBA are a gesture of goodwill that needs to be reciprocated with care, not with abuse of discretion with the rules.
And the question is: What’s the PBA going to do about this apparent transgression?
Wednesday’s nightcap saw TNT maul the Terramirma Dyip, 116-92.
No surprise there. Teams that are for sale do not have a motivated workforce.
One night. Two awful games.
Welcome back, PBA.
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