27-0: After MPBL shame, Sharks look for answers

With a 0-3 record, Cebu City had nowhere to go but up right?

Wrong. The Sharks would actually swim to uncharted depths in a recent 107-76 defeat to the Manila Stars in the MPBL Datu Cup at Cuneta Astrodome.

The team failed to score in the first quarter, falling behind in ignominious fashion, 27-0, going into the second period.

“It was embarrassing,” said team skipper Patrick Cabahug.

Cebu was actually scoreless in the first three minutes of the next period before finally breaking into the scoreboard and ending a 29-0 Stars run.

Cabahug finished with 28 points to lead the Sharks, who also shattered a Cebu basketball record for the lowest scoring quarter. In Cebu’s Cesafi basketball tournament in 2016, University of Cebu was seven-tenths of a second away from being shut out in a quarter before JR Puerto scored two free throws to break the ice.

Coincidentally, Puerto is now playing for the Sharks.

“We have to remain positive and learn from this. We have to stay together as a team and use this as motivation to fight even harder in our next game,” added Cabahug, the former Adamson star.

Frustration levels are so high that a source revealed an argument between a player and a coach broke out in the dugout over a timeout not called to try and get the Sharks into the scoreboard.

“Every day, we fight hard during practice and we give it our all,” said reserve wingman Iron Suano, a former standout at San Jose Recoletos. “We have good practices but during the game, we have a tendency to shoot after just one or two passes.”

Some of the city’s biggest stars have also come out to throw their support for the team. Former PBA stars Dondon Hontiveros and Roger Yap have asked fans to be patient and continue supporting the team.

“The only way to recover from it is to give a good showing or maybe even get a win in their next game,” said Hontiveros. “Obviously you can’t do it overnight, but having the team bond is a start. With them being closer, it won’t be awkward discussing what needs to be done.”

For Cabahug, though, improvement has to start from within the team.

“We have to change our mind-set and really believe that we can compete in this league and win. We’ve got to continue to grow as a team. Our record won’t define us, it is how we continue to fight, get better and get ready for our next game and hopefully win,” he said.

The Sharks face a tougher challenge in their next game, where they will face reigning champions Batangas City Athletics on Aug. 2.