PBA: Hotshots build back trust after 0-3 start

Star Hotshots. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

The loss to NLEX could be the wakeup call Star needed.

The Hotshots found themselves at the bottom of the standings with a 0-3 record after their 106-99 loss to the Road Warriors last Saturday in Biñan, Laguna.

Veteran forward Marc Pingris said Star held a players’ only meeting after their latest setback to resolve their early struggles.

“Pagkatapos kasi ng laro namin sa Laguna na kung pwede lang mag-adjust kami na hindi magkanya-kanya. Hindi tayo ganoon dati,” Pingris said.

“May time talaga na parang nagaaway away na kami dahil dun sa talo. Lahat ng team napagdadaanan yung ganoong sitwasyon. Kailangan dito instead na maghilahan pababa, kailangan iangat yung isa’t isa, pagusapan ng maayos as a team.”

And the result was immediate with the Hotshots playing their best game of the season in a 122-103 win over the Blackwater Elite, who came into the game with a two-game run.

“At least ngayon kahit papaano lumalabas yung laro namin. Maganda defense and kung sino yung libre siya yung tumitira.”

Star had 30 assists and shot 55% from the field, including 12-of-20 from distance.

“It’s hard to beat a team with 30 assists,” said Star head coach Jason Webb. “These players that I have, they’re very good players. One thing I talked about the guys, we wanna bring back that trust. When you’re poor defensively I think the trust is not there. So today if you watch the video, when we help defensively, people are covering their spots and that’s the trust. the other thing is when you talk about trust, you talk about moving the basketball.”

The Hotshots are hoping to sustain their form when they take on Ginebra on Sunday.