FROSTBYTE: BARAKO BULL VOWS BETTER SHOWING NEXT CONFERENCE
Fans of Barako Bull Energy Cola can look forward to brighter days ahead.
One two teams to exit early in the 2013 PBA Philippine Cup, tried to rally for a playoff berth in the latter part of the eliminations only to be frustrated by the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 101-116, in their last game.
It was a make-or-break game for the Coach Bong Ramos-steered squad, since a win could have given them a chance for the last playoffs seat against sister team Air21 Express.
“Sumama ang loob ko dun sa last game namin. Masyadong mababa ang nilaro ng players ko. Pinaalam ko talaga sa kanila yun sa dug-out,” uttered ever passionate Raffy Casyao, Barako Bull Team Manager.
As of this writing, the team is on its 11th day of vacation.
And having been a playoff cager for most of his career, veteran big man Mick Pennisi said he is not used to being idle and vowed to push the team back to its rightful place next conference.
Even before the conference kicked off last September, Barako has been saddled with injuries to key players: Rico Villanueva (ACL), Josh Urbiztondo (bruised ribs), Emman Monfort (hand), Celino Cruz (hand) & Danny Seigle (back).
“I am ready to return next conference, our elimination is a great motivation for us. Good thing my injury is not bad. I am preparing to go back to hard practice. We’re gonna be stronger kasi swak sa lakas ang Barako Bull!”, quipped Urbiztondo.
Although the usual injuries to key players and change of coaches may be to blame for the poor performance of Barako Bull, Pennisi, however, also partly blames himself.
“The early exit is a big blow to us especially to the management, which had off-season restructuring. We’re the ones that are there on the court, even though with all the stuff that happened. We’re professionals and we have to turn up and perform. Yeah, we definitely had to look at ourselves on the poor showing of the team,” said Pennisi.
But the 37-year old shooting big man firmly declared: “Definitely we’ll bounce back next conference. The management has faith in us and we won’t fail them, most especially the fans.”
The Energy Cola are set to return to practice tentatively on January 3.
“Kailangang maaga para maaga ring makapagpakundisyon. Hopefully, ma finalize na rin namin ang pagpili ng import,” Casyao quipped.
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