Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
It took just the first few possessions of the game for Phoenix coach Louie Alas to see that his team was in trouble.
And it took only 12 minutes for Alas’ fears to come true.
“First three plays of the game and I already called a quick timeout. I told my guys that we’re very passive,” Alas recalled after his team took a 120-99 beating at the hands of Rain or Shine. “We already had two turnovers at that point and in the first quarter, I called two timeouts just to stop the bleeding.”
But to no avail.
READ: Rain or Shine reduces Phoenix to ashes
Phoenix trailed, 39-11, at one point in the first quarter before falling behind by as much as 39 points in the third period.
“Bad shot selection fueled their transition offense. We let them shoot 72 percent from the field in the first half. How can you possibly win or even stay within reach?”
Alas described Phoenix’s defense as “very passive” and Rain or Shine had a field day, shooting 55% overall, including 15-of-31 from 3-point range.
READ: Rain or Shine dumps Phoenix for 2-2 record
“We defended the pick-and-roll like we’re kids and I told them is that the kind of defensive identity that you want to have, giving up 39 points in one quarter? We’re not like that,” said Alas.
Good thing for the Fuel Masters is they have a chance to redeem themselves right away on Saturday.
But it won’t be easy against Magnolia. As a matter of fact, Alas thinks Phoenix has only little room for error facing the Hotshots, who rolling with a 3-1 record and are coming off back-to-back victories.
“I was already looking forward to our game against Magnolia in the fourth quarter when I pulled out my key players to give them early rest,” he said.
“We can’t really afford to make too many mistakes against Magnolia. You make a bad decision and the ball is going to find the bottom of the net. They’re really playing well.”