BO Perasol will be the first to say that University of the Philippines better kiss its hopes of returning to the Finals goodbye if it once again plays like it did in its 89-69 defeat to University of Santo Tomas in the UAAP Season 82 stepladder semis on Sunday.
"If we want to be given the chance to be in the finals again, we really have to play better because looking forward, if that's the way we play against Ateneo, we are just going to be a show for Ateneo. We couldn't bring that type of game to any team, UST or against any team. We have to be a lot better," he said.
The Fighting Maroons hardly looked like a No. 2 seed in Sunday's game, struggling to execute and at times, fully depending on their talent alone just to keep in step with the Growling Tigers.
But in the end, UP just couldn't keep up and the effort didn't sit too well for Perasol.
"The way we played in most of the quarters, there's just no way we can win against UST. We cannot just be the recipient of their aggressiveness and we need to match them," he said, with his side losing all of its three meetings against UST this season.
"They understand that the reason that we lost three times this season against UST is because they outplayed and outhustled us. If they are faster, we could not catch them. If we couldn't find a way to find the defensive rebound, they are going to get the second chance points."
Most glaring was the three-point shooting, with the Growling Tigers firing 11-of-36 from deep, good for 30-percent, against the Fighting Maroons' measly 3-of-17 clip for a paltry 17-percent shooting.
It also didn't help that UST's ball movement was on point, dishing out 23 assists to UP's 12.
Perasol, though, is looking to rectify those woes and finally come up with a timely solution for the Fighting Maroons to solve the puzzle that is the Growling Tigers with the coveted finals seat hanging in the balance on Wednesday.
"As I've said, it's something that we need to address. Tatlong beses na kami tinalo niyan. We just have to learn from that. Conditioning-wise, what can we do in the next days, yun ang importante. Bottomline is we need to be a lot better."
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