Blackwater Elite vs NLEX Road Warriors. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Blackwater coach Leo Isaac had talked about having the tools to contend in the league this time. But with that much talent at his disposal, he has also learned the bitter lesson that it’s not all roses at this point.
Coming off a two-game losing streak, Isaac identified the cause of that slide and succeeded in addressing it, which resulted in a 96-85 decision of NLEX last night.
According to Isaac, the adjustments should serve as the foundation the team needs not only for the rest of the PBA Philippine Cup but the entire season as well.
“Nagkaroon ng sapawan (We’re trying to outdo each other), and we (rest of the coaching staff) had to correct it right away,” Isaac said when asked of the reason for those two losses and why they were so fluid against the Road Warriors.
Alaska closed out with two triples inside the final 27.3 seconds to complete a come-from-behind 81-79 victory over Meralco in the nightcap.
RJ Jazul and Chris Banchero hit the final two three-pointers and Calvin Abueva made a lot of things possible when the chips were down as Alaska won for the second straight game after rallying from a 68-77 deficit with 2:43 to go to tie its victims at 2-2.
The Elite climbed to 3-2 overall and handed NLEX a third straight defeat in a 1-3 card at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
“We had to step in and make the necessary adjustments,” the former Ginebra San Miguel point guard went on, as he continued to enjoy the finest start in his coaching career. “During this game, we had a semblance of team play going.”
Isaac politely pointed to media for having a hand in his players trying to outdo each other on the floor.
“Sorry, guys, but media has sensationalized scoring (in the stories),” he said. “I just wish that the players’ contributions in other departments, like defense, will also be mentioned.”
Sophomore forward Art Dela Cruz fired 18 points that went with eight rebounds and three others scored in twin digits as the Elite—as a whole—plugged the holes created by the lukewarm game of super rookie Mac Belo to get back on track.
Belo, after averaging 23 points in his first three games, has been held to 11 in the last two. He had just nine against the NLEX defense, which allowed him just eight field goal attempts in a 35-minute night.
And this is another concern for Isaac as he readies his Elite to make a playoff series for the first time and maybe even go deep once they’re there.
“After four games (before NLEX), the other teams could have scouted him already,” Isaac said of Belo’s “ordinary man” performance the last two games. “We have to continue to remind him to sharpen his other tools.”
The Road Warriors, in just their fourth game under the mercurial Yeng Guiao, never led as they played minus big men Asi Taulava and Enrico Villanueva and the streak-shooting Garvo Lanete.
Carlo Lastimosa paced the Road Warriors with 23 points, with the veteran Mac Baracael firing 16.