FREE throws.
Two words which Yeng Guiao pointed out cost Rain or Shine in its 113-105 overtime loss to TNT in Game Two of their PBA Philippine Cup semifinal playoff on Friday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Elasto Painters were 20-of-34 from the foul line (59 percent), which Guiao said could have made a difference in a close game had they knocked down most of them.
“We missed 14 free throws. If we just made one free throw before regulation time, that could have been the game,” said Guiao as he emerged from the Rain or Shine dugout.
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“To miss 14 free throws in a really close game, I think that’s really disappointing. I was putting emphasis on that doon sa talk namin sa dugout. In close games, kailangan talaga you’re a professional you must be making at least 80 percent of your free throws.”
Adrian Nocum, who topscored for Rain or Shine with 27 points, was 3-of-6 from the free throw area, two of those which he missed came with 2:17 to go in the fourth quarter and the Elasto Painters just slightly ahead, 95-94.
Guiao also thought Gian Mamuyac fouling Calvin Oftana in TNT’s final offensive play in the act of shooting from the three-point line, likewise contributed to Rain or Shine now staring at a 0-2 deficit in the best-of-seven series.
Oftana made all three free throws awarded to him that tied the game at 99 with seven seconds left, eventually sending the match into overtime.
“Just a bad decision to foul Calvin when he was desperately looking for a three-point shot. Yun ang sinasabi ko sa team namin. That does not require talent, that does not require size, does not require athleticism. It only requires just a little bit of intelligence, basketball IQ. And we could have won the game,” said Guiao.
But the veteran coach, 66, is not in the business of blaming or finger pointing. He was actually very happy with the effort shown by his team against a talented TNT side.
“Laking panghihinayang namin. But the effort was there. And I’m really happy with the effort, an incredible effort. We led, they led, we came back, overtime. So it was an exciting game, but we couldn’t get the breaks. Breaks lang naman ang pagkatalo namin,” said Guiao.
And the sorry loss only gave the Elasto Painters an added motivation to be a better team in the next games of the series.
“It’s part of the process. Just two games. We’ll be back stronger on Sunday,” vows Guiao.
Smart Araneta Coliseum will be the venue for Game 3 on Sunday.
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