Kelly knows he can play better after ‘okay’ debut for Magnolia

Curtis Kelly debuts for Magnolia. PBA IMAGES

On the surface, Curtis Kelly had a decent debut in the PBA, scoring 19 points and grabbing 15 rebounds in Magnolia’s 99-96 loss to Rain or Shine in the Commissioner’s Cup.

But underneath that was a disastrous pileup of misses and mistakes as Kelly shot 8-of-20 from the field and went 3-of-12 from the charity stripe.

Kelly, though, vowed to have a better showing in the Hotshots’ future games as they try to improve on their 3-2 record.

“I thought I just did okay, I can improve, I can be better,” said Kelly Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum. “My free throws were terrible, I have no excuses I just missed them.”

“Those misses are inexcusable, I have to get better at that. If I made my free throws I probably finished with 30. I have to continue to be impressive and focus a little bit more.”

Kelly’s biggest mistake in the game might have been the aftermath of his biggest defensive stop.

With less than a minute remaining in overtime, and Magnolia trailing 95-94, Kelly intercepted Chris Tiu’s pass to Reggie Johnson and immediately started a break for the basket.

Kelly, on his way for a layup, got the ball stripped away from him after Maverick Ahanmisi swiped on the leather at the 18.1-second mark of overtime.

The ensuing possession saw Tiu vindicate himself from the earlier turnover and drain two free throws with 16.8 seconds left in the game and give Rain or Shine a 97-94 bubble.

“We played against the no. 1 team tonight and they played like the no. 1 team,” said Kelly who arrived in the Philippines on Monday and got measured in the PBA office on Thursday.

“I think I’ll get better, I have no choice but to get better. I don’t want to get eliminated. I want to be in the playoffs, that’s my goal and if I want to achieve that goal I have to better and my teammates will follow.”