Entering the PBA Governor’s Cup Playoffs, the Globalport Batang Pier were the fourth seed going up against the fifth seed Star Hotshots which had a very rough eliminations stage.
Globalport had a twice-to-beat advantage. After the game Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, they lost that advantage and experienced the worst loss in PBA Playoffs history.
“Loss” is an understatement; the Batang Pier got dealt with a verb too graphic to publish.
“Annihilation” could be used to describe their 126-73 loss to the Hotshots, but the word still leaves something to the imagination.
After the game, the Hotshots were jubilant they are still alive; it wasn’t the same for the Batang Pier.
Globalport had a players-only meeting where the Batang Pier stayed in their dugout for more than an hour.
Leaving the dugout, a dejected Terrence Romeo walked out of the Smart Araneta Coliseum tunnel, his head down.
He was in no mood to spare some words, he just said they “talked” about the loss.
“Coach told us to bounce back, and be positive,” Romeo said who finished with a team-high 18 points.
For import Jarrid Famous, the Hotshots’ desire to win the game was far too greater than theirs.
“They came out and wanted it more,” said Famous, who finished with a 16-point, 15-rebound double-double. “It was a learning experience for me, we didn’t work hard enough.”
He added the Hotshots “did not do anything special, they only did the little things.” AU