PBA: Rey Suerte rues missed crucial freethrows in career night

Blackwater Bossing’s Rey Suerte reacts after a play against NLEX in the PBA Philippine Cup. –PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines—Blackwater’s undefeated run after three games in the PBA Philippine Cup ended on Wednesday, and it won’t be a surprise if Rey Suerte loses sleep over the loss.

Suerte finished with a career-high 21 points in the Bossing’s 103-97 loss to NLEX, but he missed three crucial free throws that could’ve let the Bossing tie the game or given them the lead in the final two minutes.

Despite reveling in his career highlight where he also had seven rebounds, four assists and two blocks, Suerte exited the Philsports Arena with those bungled free throws haunting him.

READ: PBA: Bolick connects in clutch as NLEX ends Blackwater’s flawless run

“I was thrown off by my first missed free throw earlier,” said Suerte in Filipino. “Then I started thinking why I kept on missing these free throws when they were so easy to make.”

Despite registering a blistering 72 percent shooting clip where he missed just three of his 11 shots, Suerte was ice cold from the charity stripe going 3-for-8.

“In moments like these, we’ll learn the most in those kinds of situations,” Suerte said. “Well just move on and adjust from our mistakes today so we won’t do it again next time.

READ: PBA: Rey Suerte relishes Blackwater’s morale-boosting win

Fortunately for the University of the East product, he has veteran guards Rey Nambatac and James Yap to keep his spirits up after missing the game’s most crucial shots.

“ Every time I missed, they just told me not to lose confidence and just keep moving forward. He (Yap) even told me that it’s a part of growing up.”

Suerte is slowly finding his rhythm for the Bossing, who are dropped to a 3-1 record, with averages of 9.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists per night.