Maybe Aces became ‘overconfident’ amid streak, says Abueva
Alaska was sent crashing back to earth as TNT snapped its three-game winning run with a 109-100 win on Friday.
And Calvin Abueva didn’t discount that the streak may have gotten to their heads.
“Siguro nag-overconfident din kami. Pero hindi ibig sabihin nun na di na kami lalaban. Hanggang dulo naman, talagang ipinakita namin na aggressive kami,” he said.
Lackadaisical in the first half, the Aces found themselves down by 16, 54-38, at halftime.
Though they still were able to claw their way back in the game and trim the deficit to just seven, 77-70 after a superb 32-point third quarter, the KaTropa were just too much as Troy Rosario and Larry Fonacier drained backbreaking threes to start the fourth and take the win.
“Naging effective yung outside shooting nila. Pumapasok yung kay Larry (Fonacier) at yung kay Troy (Rosario), at doon na lumakas ang kumpyansa nila sa mga tira nila,” he said.
Abueva said that this must serve as a wake up call for Alaska as it seeks to bounce back when the new year comes.
“Di naman sa minamaliit namin ang kalaban, pero malakas din talaga sila dahil champion team yan. Malaking lesson sa amin ito kasi 3-3 kami ngayon. Kailangan naming mag-tiyaga pa sa mga susunod na laro,” he said.
Alaska will next face Star on January 11 next year.
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