ELITE TRY ONE MORE TIME
BLACKWATER management has foreseen a rough initial campaign in the pro league and that it is only in the distant horizon a playoffs slot, more so a contender tag, would be realized.
“We are an expansion team. We know it will take some time and that we can’t possibly compete for a playoff spot with the more established teams – at least at this time,” Elite alternate governor Wilbert Loa has said.
That doesn’t mean Blackwater would not try.
The Elite gun for that elusive breakthrough win anew when they take on a GlobalPort squad looking for a second straight win Sunday in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Batang Pier are aiming to follow up their 84-79 conquest of Kia last Tuesday and in the process improve to a 3-2 win-loss slate.
Blackwater simply wants one ‘W’ to show and then take it from there.
“Ganu’n pa din. We will do our very best to get that first win,” said coach Leo Isaac, whose Elite have lost their first four games, at least two of those tough ones.
In an opening day loss to fellow new member Kia and then to Rain or Shine, Blackwater blew sizable, early leads. Isaac’s charges even dragged Meralco through overtime.
And against Barangay Ginebra last Tuesday, the Elite hung on to the coattails of the perennial favorite before getting bowled over by the Kings’ more superior depth and firepower and bowed, 91-100.
Isaac said some awe and doubt were also a factor against Ginebra, with its superstars in Mark Caguioa, LA Tenorio and Jayjay Helterbrand.
“Sa Ginebra, parang nakayuko na yung mga player ko e. Intimidated. Until we convince ourselves that we could win, that’s the time when we could prove ourselves,”said Isaac during a post-game interview.
”I told them: ‘Until the time you get out of your shell and compete with these guys, mawala yung fear, yung duda, that’s the time when we can celebrate a victory.’”
The fact GlobalPort has some young players who are of the same age as most of their Blackwater counterparts should erase any fear or feeling of being intimidated.
Being awestruck is not a problem for the Batang Pier since most of them have already played longer in the PBA.
There is also the return to action of Alex Cabagnot, who sat out the Kia game due to a sore throat, adding to an arsenal that already boasts of Stanley Pringle, Ronjay Buenafe, Yancy de Ocampo and Mark Isip.
Blackwater’s task would even be herculean should Terrence Romeo regain his shooting touch. He pegged the scoring bar with 33 points in GlobalPort’s first game but has since averaged 3.6 points, on 5-for-33 field shooting, the last three games. (NC)
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