Dismal freethrowing shooting dooms Meralco

Coach Norman Black. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Chris Banchero may have won the game for Alaska, but for Meralco head coach Norman Black, poor free throw shooting spelled doom for the Bolts.

Black was displeased with the Bolts after they missed 11 of their 16 attempts from the foul line in an 81-79 loss to the Alaska Aces Wednesday night.

“To shoot 5-of-16 is not very professional, at least in the PBA level. It’s probably what cost us the game tonight,” Black told reporters.

“We just have to get in the gym and make those foul shots. We’re number two in the league in free throw shooting so I didn’t expect us to shoot 30 percent,” added Black, whose team dropped to 2-2.

Meralco was well on its way to a victory after Reynel Hugnatan scored on a breakaway layup for a 77-68 lead with only 2:43 left.

But the Aces rallied and closed the game on a 13-2 blast to end the Bolts’ two-game run.

“Tough loss. If you’re up by nine with four minutes to go, you should win the basketball game, but we missed a lot of foul shots tonight and didn’t make the plays when we needed it,” Black said.

“Alaska made their three-point shots in the end to win the game, so we just got to go back in practice and get better.”

With Meralco still ahead, 79-78, Banchero sank a triple from the right corner to give Alaska the lead with 15.1 seconds left and ultimately the victory.