Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
Despite Blackwater’s predicament, Greg Smith is staying positive that his team can make a late run to the 2017 PBA Commissioner’s Cup playoffs.
“I’m confident,” he said. “Even if we lose 10 games in a row, I will stay confident. That’s who I am. On Tuesday, I’m gonna bring that mindset and play hard to let the guys know that we should start winning regardless of who we’ll face.”
Though Smith would like to move from the tough loss, the idea of the team losing hold of an 80-72 lead going into the fourth quarter and suffering a 102-91 defeat at the hands of Meralco is hard to shake off.
READ: Meralco locks down Blackwater for sixth win
“It was tough. They played good defense. They started containing our plays. I think we just started to just chill and not aggressive like we were in the first three quarters. That kind of hurt us in the fourth,” he said.
The Elite could only convert 11 points in the payoff period, with Smith only contributing a pair against the suffocating Bolts defense, compared to the 30-point finishing kick from Meralco to steal the game away.
Though disappointed, Smith could only echo coach Leo Isaac’s pleas as Blackwater looks forward to its final five games with its 1-5 slate in tow.
“Basically, we got to keep fighting. We have to continue to fight because you’ll never know when it’s gonna be our turn to come up with a winning streak,” he said.
“I know that any day, any game, it can turn around. We can win five straight, or four of the last five. Anything can still happen. There’s no reason to look back at these first six games thinking we’re done and we’re not good enough. Now is the time to get back to practice, learn to fight more, and start to prepare for the next games for us to win.”