WE HAVE TO MAKE OUR OUTSIDE SHOTS – BLACK
Meralco coach Norman Black offered no excuses after another defeat at the hands of Rain or Shine Sunday.
“I think we have to give credit where the credit is due. They shot the ball well. The key to winning the game is the team that shoots well,” he said.
Down 0-2, the Bolts’ backs are now against the wall. Another defeat will send them packing.
Black notes that experience is definitely showing in this series.
“This is a new experience for some of my guys. This is the first time we’ve been in the semifinals. Rain or Shine is not just talented, they’re also very experienced,” he said. “Maybe this is a stepping stone for us to have to go through this to maybe reach the next level next time.”
Asked to pinpoint the main culprit in their semifinal struggles, Black explained, “I think one of the problems we have right now is that my import doesn’t shoot outside of three-four feet and Rain or Shine recognizes that. The locals aren’t hitting their shots from the perimeter, and it makes it more difficult for my import to really operate in the paint because we’re clogging the middle. They’re just waiting for him in the rim and they’re not guarding him from the outside.”
He continued, “The only way we can get around that is when our locals shoot well, but at this time of the season, you have to rise up and make your shots. That’s what Rain or Shine is doing, that’s how teams win Finals and championships. My guys have to realize that they have to make their outside shots.”
“For us to be successful, they have to open our paint and shoot from the perimeter and make our shots. So far, we haven’t been able to do that.”
However, Black is not about ready to wave the white flag.
“It’s not over yet,” he said. “They still have to win three games. We have to play much better to get wins in this series, but again, they only have two wins. We still have a chance.” (RL)
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