ANTIPOLO – Vic Manuel feels Alaska has lost whatever edge it had in the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinal playoff after Barangay Ginebra pulled off a come-from-behind 85-81 win on Sunday night.
The Aces wasted a 17-point third-quarter lead as they succumbed to the pressure and the loud crowd of over 10,000 cheering for the Gin Kings amid their comeback.
“Mahirap sabihin 'yan (na sa amin pa rin ang control) lalo na Ginebra kalaban namin, yung crowd dun sila nabubuhay,” Manuel admitted. “Kailangan siguro next game mas focused tsaka yung discipline namin and ilimit namin yung turnovers, yun siguro magpapanalo sa amin.”
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Manuel admitted the second-seeded and twice-to-beat Aces were so eager to finish off the Gin Kings in one game that they committed 17 errors in all, although still five less than Ginebra committed.
Manuel had four turnovers.
“Yun (gigil) 'yung nangyari nga, di namin naingatan yung bola,” Manuel said. “Nung nagkaroon kami ng turnovers, nagkaroon na rin sila ng momentum hanggang makalamang na sila.”
Limited to just nine points and four boards in 18 minutes off the bench, Manuel vowed to bring his A-game on Tuesday.
“Do-or-die game na yan, wala ng bukas, ibibigay na lahat 'yan.”
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