Defensive adjustments by Aces still not enough, says Abueva

Calvin Abueva. PBA IMAGES

Calvin Abueva was left wondering what hit the Aces as they stared at this 0-2 hole in the 2015 PBA Governors’ Cup Finals.

“Zero-2 na. Maganda yung laban from first to third (quarters), pero pagdating ng fourth, nag-give up na naman. Di ko alam kung bakit (It’s 0-2. It has been a close fight from first to third, but in the fourth, we just gave up. I don’t know why.),” he said.

Alaska was poised to level the series to one game apiece after leading by nine midway in the payoff period, but a 25-point blast by the Beermen in the final six minutes turned the tide and sent the Aces home in tears once again.

READ: Compton left with more questions with Beermen up 2-0 vs Aces

Part of it also came when Abueva was no longer fielded in by coach Alex Compton after injuring his left thumb in the third quarter. But the mercurial forward said that he’s fine and he’ll be ready for Game 3 on Wednesday.

“Sabi ko di na ako papasok kasi natanggal ko na yung tape. Nung last seconds, sabi ko next game na lang (I wasn’t able to go back to the game because I already took the tape off and I said I’ll be good in our next game.),” he said, as he also hoped that the two days off will help the Aces figure the things they need to do to at least gain a game in the best-of-7 series.

Abueva knows that Alaska has already made strides in their defensive adjustments from its horrifying 30-point Game 1 defeat, but it still wasn’t enough to halt the Beermen.

READ: San Miguel snatches Game 2 from Alaska, takes 2-0 lead

“Siguro dun sa depensa namin. Kulang pa yung adjustment para matapatan yung shooters nila. Andun naman yung depensa namin eh, naunahan lang ng shooters nila (Maybe it’s our defense. We still have to do much in our adjustments to guard their shooters. Our defense was there, but it just so happened that their shooters got their shots in earlier than expected.),” he said. CFC