Ranidel de Ocampo of Talk N Text (light) vs Raymund Almazan of Rain or Shine (dark). PBA IMAGE
Talk ’N Text forward Ranidel de Ocampo said the Tropang Texters were just lucky to escape the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in Game 1 of the 2015 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals on Wednesday night.
The soft-spoken De Ocampo also thought with the way the Texters showed lack of energy on both ends of the floor in long stretches, the Painters should have won the championship opener.
“Masarap sa pakiramdam kapag nananalo ka talaga ng Game 1. Iba yung nasimulan mo ng panalo yung series. Pero ang nangyari kasi sa laro namin, masasabi ko na hindi maganda yung nilaro namin,” De Ocampo said. “Hindi pa talaga yung laro namin talaga na pulido. Malamya. Kalagitnaan ng first half flat. Hindi pang-championship yung laro namin kanina nagre-react lang kami kapag yung nahahabol na kami so dapat hindi ganon. Dapat kahit anong mangyari nandoon pa din yung disiplina namin. Yun yung wala sa amin kanina kaya hindi ganon kasaya mga players namin kanin.”
Rain or Shine missed 15 free throws and turned the ball over 17 times. In contrast, Talk ’N Text committed only eight turnovers and had 21 assists while making 81% of their 26 attempts from the free throw area. Despite the glaring differences, the Painters still found themselves with a chance to win with two minutes left.
“Swerte lang kami na nanalo kami ngayon. Kung titignan mo yung 3-points ni Chism nagmintis lang. Kung na-shoot yon two points lang lamang namin. Sa tingin ko dapat sila yung nanalo ngayon kasi nagmintis lang sila ng 15 free throws. So sa tingin ko swerte lang pagkapanalo namin,” De Ocampo pointed out.
The former Gilas Pilipinas standout only echoed his head coach Jong Uichico’s thoughts. Uichico was displeased with his team’s performance when he spoke to reporters shortly after the Texters’ 99-92 victory.
READ: Texters survive Painters for 1-0 series lead
“Sinabihan niya (Uichico) yung mga galing sa bench na kapag naglaro mag-effort at play hard. And naintindihan naman ng mga teammates ko yung sinabi niya,” said De Ocampo.
“Kailangan disiplina sa bawat sulok ng court hindi yung hindi na kami susunod sa dapat gawin. Kailangan din mag paghusayan namin kasi advantage sila (Rain or Shine) kasi mas nakapagpahinga sila.”
De Ocampo and company have a day to prepare before plunging back into action in hopes to take a 2-0 lead on Friday in Game 2.