ONE ROUGH & TUMBLE RIDE
The 2015 PBA Commissioner’s Cup has been a tough ride for San Miguel Beer.
Fatigue, championship hangover, injuries, and just plain bad luck have all stricken the Beermen, and pulled them down to the cellar.
But after their 102-91 win over Barako Bull on Tuesday, coach Leo Austria admitted that he can now breathe a sigh of relief as they go to the All-Star break on a winning note, improving their standing at 2-6.
“It’s good for us because in the last few weeks, talagang nasa agony kami. Fans are disappointed with our performance and we cannot blame them,” he said.
Austria added, “It’s really hard for a team to recover coming from a tough seven-game series. We’re physically and emotionally drained. Our conditioning has gone down and we’re trying to catch up.”
Though they handily beat Barako Bull, the win came with a price, as June Mar Fajardo sprained his ankle in the early goings of the game, forcing the Beermen to field in Doug Kramer and JayR Reyes at the slot.
It didn’t help that Arwind Santos and Alex Cabagnot are still playing through pain, putting Austria in a tough position with their already disappointing record.
However, Austria remained positive that his team can still squeeze its way into the playoff picture, and the All-Star break is just a welcome reprieve to their frustrating conference so far.
“The chances are still there. And I hope this will continue after the All-Star break,” he said.
The coach is also happy with the developments in his team, baring that the players went out for dinner and sorted things out on their own.
“They took the initiative and talked about things, to see what’s happening in our team and ironed things out. I’m happy to see that from them,” Austria said.
But whatever path the Beermen’s journey might take, the grizzled bench tactician said that he’s taking responsibility for all the disappointments the Commissioner’s Cup has dealt them.
“I’m ready to face the consequences out there.” (RL)
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