PUERTO Princesa, Philippines – One-two down against a formidable
foe, all Barangay Ginebra coach Jong Uichico wants is for the Gin Kings
to not be counted out.
Not yet, anyway.
“We’ve been here before: 1-2 down, 1-3 down, 0-2 down,” Uichico told reporters here, a night after taking an 88-104 Game 3 beating at the hands of the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters in their PBA Commissioner’s Cup title series.
“There is no need to panic, and we won’t panic,” Uichico added. “We’re in the Finals, mind you. You panic when you’re in the eliminations and (you won’t advance to the playoffs).
“This is a series and in every series, what we need to do is make adjustments, not panic.”
Uichico was asked whether he was close to pressing the panic button after his squad was manhandled for the second time in the series by the much more athletic and younger Tropang Texters.
“We broke down late in the third quarter and that was the story,” Uichico said. “That is what Talk ‘N Text will try to do against us, break us down. And that is what we have to avoid, because if we can keep it close (until the endgame) then we have a chance.”
Game 4 of the physical series is set on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, and for all intents and purposes, it’s going to be a must-win game for the crowd-darling Gin Kings.
“We need to be able to not allow them to pressure us too much, especially our rookies,” veteran gunslinger Mark Caguioa, a hard-nosed fighter, said on the way to the airport as the team prepared to fly back to Manila.
“Basically, we get out of whack every time the pressure comes,” he continued.
Rob Labagala and John Wilson are two neophytes getting long playing times from Uichico, and they were holding the fort, much in the same way they did in a 108-106 Game 2 win.
“This is just a game. What we will do is just play the best we can,” Uichico said.
Game on Wednesday: (Araneta Coliseum) 7 p.m. – Barangay Ginebra vs Talk ‘N Text
Not yet, anyway.
“We’ve been here before: 1-2 down, 1-3 down, 0-2 down,” Uichico told reporters here, a night after taking an 88-104 Game 3 beating at the hands of the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters in their PBA Commissioner’s Cup title series.
“There is no need to panic, and we won’t panic,” Uichico added. “We’re in the Finals, mind you. You panic when you’re in the eliminations and (you won’t advance to the playoffs).
“This is a series and in every series, what we need to do is make adjustments, not panic.”
Uichico was asked whether he was close to pressing the panic button after his squad was manhandled for the second time in the series by the much more athletic and younger Tropang Texters.
“We broke down late in the third quarter and that was the story,” Uichico said. “That is what Talk ‘N Text will try to do against us, break us down. And that is what we have to avoid, because if we can keep it close (until the endgame) then we have a chance.”
Game 4 of the physical series is set on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, and for all intents and purposes, it’s going to be a must-win game for the crowd-darling Gin Kings.
“We need to be able to not allow them to pressure us too much, especially our rookies,” veteran gunslinger Mark Caguioa, a hard-nosed fighter, said on the way to the airport as the team prepared to fly back to Manila.
“Basically, we get out of whack every time the pressure comes,” he continued.
Rob Labagala and John Wilson are two neophytes getting long playing times from Uichico, and they were holding the fort, much in the same way they did in a 108-106 Game 2 win.
“This is just a game. What we will do is just play the best we can,” Uichico said.
Game on Wednesday: (Araneta Coliseum) 7 p.m. – Barangay Ginebra vs Talk ‘N Text
0 Comments
