Blackwater Elite import MJ Rhett (middle) went without a field goal in a lopsided loss to the Meralco Bolts on Friday, March 18, 2016, at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MJ Rhett took part in his worst game in the PBA — scoring only eight points and missing all of his seven attempts from the field — in Blackwater’s blowout loss to Meralco on Friday.
Bolts head coach Norman Black felt his import Arinze Onuaku was the reason behind it, but Rhett didn’t think so.
The 24-year-old Rhett refused to give Onuaku any credit as he attributed his poor performance to lack of touches.
“I didn’t get the same amount of touches I normally get,” said a disgruntled Rhett, who was the last man out of the losing dugout at Mall of Asia Arena. “I wasn’t shooting as much late but I still didn’t get a lot of touches like I normally do. It wasn’t the same looks either compared to all the other games. so I don’t know, I guess we just got to get out of this funk.”
“It’s the same every game,” Rhett said of Meralco’s defensive game plan against him. “I feel like nobody’s defense is that good. Ginebra played good defense on us, but that’s it.”
Rhett faced a couple of reporters and for a moment, he was at a loss for words.
“I don’t know. I don’t even know what to say. We just didn’t come out and execute like we’re supposed to,” he said. “It’s a bad game all around for everybody.”
But as frustrated as Rhett was, he still likes Blackwater’s chances of making the quarterfinals.
The Elite are currently in 10th place at 3-5 with only three games left.
“We just have to come ready to play,” he said.