THE back is good, but not his shooting rhythm.
Marcio Lassiter said his hurting back had little to do with scoreless stint in San Miguel’s 99-94 loss to Magnolia in Game One of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals on Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The 31-year-old Fil-Am said he now feels much better after back spasms limited him from getting his usual minutes during the Beermen’s semifinal series against Phoenix.
Lassiter just felt the long time he was out of action put him out of rhythm for the opener of the best-of-seven series.
“It’s not really my injury that’s been affecting me because I feel good. It’s just getting my rhythm,” he said.
By his own calculations, he was almost inactive for about 12 days as he even missed Game 3 of the Beermen’s 92-90 loss against the Fuel Masters.
The result had the San Miguel’s top gunner firing blanks from the outside, going 0-for-8 from the field in 32 minutes of play – his longest since Game 2 of the semis.
He was 0-for-5 from three-point range. He mised badly on a step-back trey with 19 seconds left with Magnolia leading by just three, 97-94.
But Lassiter has no regrets, saying he’ll still shoot when put in the same exact scenario in the succeeding games of the best-of-seven series.
“I’m definitely taking it in, same exact shot. Game 2, 3 or whatever game (it is),” he said
Like a warrior, Lassiter said he’ll definitely get better as the series progresses.
“Just bounce back in Game 2,” he casually said.
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