IT was a matter of Globalport wanting it more than Alaska.
Basically, that’s how big man Sonny Thoss saw the 95-91 loss the Aces absorbed against the Batang Pier on Friday night when they fell short of completing a huge comeback from as much as a 17-point deficit.
“They (Batang Pier) came out with more aggression in all cylinders. That’s a fault on our end,” rued Thoss, who finished with just two points on 1-of-7 shooting from the field but added 10 rebounds.
“We didn’t respond to their physicality. Basically, we just didn’t come out and play. When you play like that, you get burned, that’s what happened tonight.”
Alaska’s surprising anemic performance was in complete contrast to the team’s 94-87 victory over San Miguel Beer during the opener of the season-ending coneference.
A quick look at the stats revealed the Aces didn’t take good care of the basketball, turning the ball over 19 times during the game.
Globalport translated Alaska’s numerous miscues to 25 points while making a living with its running game as shown in the Batang Pier’s 20-3 advantage on fastbreak points.
Thoss said the Alaska coaching staff led by Luigi Trillo didn’t say much after the game, though the big man out of James Cook University admitted the Aces will have to play with a more sense of urgency in the future.
“They (Alaska coaching staff) didn’t really say much. But we were really the ones who came out flat, while they (Batang Pier) wanted it more,” explained the one-time PBA Finals MVP.
“We came up a little low defensively on our rotation.”
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