ALEC Stockton isn't only tough inside the court, he's also tough off it.
So tough is his mind that even as criticisms mount after another end game blunder in Converge's loss to Barangay Ginebra on Sunday in the PBA Commissioner's Cup, he's not really letting those things bother him.
Though he said he's not into social media, he's totally aware of the common blame game hurled towards him with every costly mistake he's ad with the FiberXers past or present.
Stockton remained in high spirit despite his turnover off an inbound play led to the team’s 99-93 loss to the Gin Kings' at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, sending the franchise tumbling to their fourth straight loss, and a 1-4 record overall.
READ: Pineda stands by under-fire Stockton after another costly error
“I don’t really let it affect me. You know, I come home to my kids, my family, and that’s who I look forward to meeting. Obviously, being able to gel with my teammates, being able to enjoy the game with them,” the 27-year-old California native said.
“And overall, just being grateful for the game of basketball. Not everybody get to have this opportunity to play basketball for a living. That’s really everything to me already.”
Stockton committed a total of four turnovers, the last of which came in the final 52 seconds when he fumbled an inbound pass which was deflected and eventually stolen by Scottie Thompson.
The sequence led to a Justin Brownlee basket also off a one-on-one play against Stockton that gave Ginebra a 97-93 lead with 34 seconds left.
It marked the second straight game a Stockton error led to a Converge loss, counting the costly foul he committed against Don Trollano in the last 27 seconds which resulted into two free throws.
Trollano hit those free throws and broke the game’s final deadlock and eventually gave San Miguel the 103-99 win.
Then not too long ago in a do-or-die game for a spot in the Philippine Cup semifinals, co-incidentally against Barangay Ginebra, Stockton fouled Jeremiah Gray while the latter was attempting a corner three pointer which sent the contest into overtime. The Kings eventually won in extension thanks to Stephen Holt’s game-winning three, 99-98.
The criticisms may be growing louder by the day, but the guard out of Far Eastern University isn't taking things personal, adding that he respects what the fans believed in.
“It’s just a part of it. We’re in the entertainment business, and people have rights to their own opinion on how they view the game,” Stockton said.
But he did acknowledge the need for the FiberXers to turn things around before everything becomes too late.
“Obviously we have to stop losing. Nobody wants to be on this end. We got to be better,” he stressed.
Converge won't play until April 10 yet when it takes on unbeaten Rain or Shine, and Stockton hopes the long break will allow injured players Juan Gomez De Liano, Calvin Abueva, and Justin Arana to finally rejoin the active roster.
“I’m very confident. We’re lacking three of our main guys, Calvin (Abueva), Justin Arana, and Juan (Gomez De Liano) the past three games,” he said.
“We have some time to kind of recover this Holy Week. We don’t play until the 10th so hopefully we’ll complete by then.”
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