PHOENIX believes it's much better than its win-loss record, and it hopes that the new year would bring new hope.
The Fuel Masters are currently at the bottom of the standings with a 2-5 win-loss record ahead of their game against Rain or Shine on Saturday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, but a long shot for the quarterfinals remains.
READ: Red-hot Rain or Shine, Converge stake streaks vs separate foes
After all, their losses could be attributed to their inability to finish games, as they have been routinely outscored in the fourth quarter, including being blown away, 23-7, in the fourth game against Barangay Ginebra.
“It’s very disappointing of course, for all of us. Not just me, from the ball boys to the players to the assistant coaches, especially in management,” said coach Jamike Jarin.
“But we have to stick together. We can’t implode. We just have to stay together, stay positive.”
There was also a game against Meralco where Phoenix led by as many as 23 points only to bow down anew.
“You saw the game against Meralco, Converge, and even in the Ginebra game, in the Eastern game, we were leading. It’s just a matter of just closing out,” said Jarin.
The good thing for the Fuel Masters is that they have been in contention to win thanks to import Donovan Smith, who is one of the most prolific scorers among the current crop of reinforcements in averaging 31.7 points.
“It’s still a learning progress for everybody. But a lot of credit goes to (Smith). I’m just so blessed to have him. And people don’t now… Before our break, he was sick and he just kept playing with it because he knows he’s very valuable. He’s the best,” said Jarin.
Donovan doing work
The 31-year-old Smith already knew even before arriving in Manila to join Phoenix that he would have to assume a bigger role in this young squad.
“We talked about it through video call that we are a very young team. So there’s going to be struggles, (considering) the maturity, the experience that we lack," Jarin said of Smith.
"So the first thing he said to me when we talked, he said that ‘I will be an extension of you coaches.' Not just me, but all the coaches. The good thing about our team is we are eager to learn from each other, so we will listen to each other.”
Even with the defeats, Smith said they are maintaining a positive mindset, and their 122-108 win over Terrafirma last Tuesday is a step in the right direction.
As he put it, “We come in to work every day with the same attitude, regardless if we would have won five straight or if we would lose. I just feel like keeping that positive mindset within the guys to make sure that we all have the same goal no matter what – win or lose – is the most important thing.”
“And I feel like that’s going to carry us into the new year because this is a fresh start. We can’t worry about the last six games that already passed because it’s in the past. So now, we just have to focus on the next six games coming ahead.”
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