No. 4 Converge FiberXers got dragged by fifth-seeded Ginebra Gin Kings to a do-or-die battle for a semifinal seat in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup on Sunday, Dec. 28.
Converge coach Delta Pineda urged his players to focus on the game instead of complaining about the officiating.
Pineda had this to say after No. 4 and twice-to-beat-armed FiberXers’ 85-105 loss to fifth-ranked Ginebra in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup quarterfinal game on Christmas Day.
“'Yong complaint nga po ng mga bata. Pero I told them, tigilan ninyo ang mga reklamo, wala na tayong magagawa tungkol dyan,” said Pineda after the match at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
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The players’ frustrations with the calls stemmed from key players Justin Arana and Alec Stockton getting into foul trouble early.
By halftime, Arana already had four fouls, while Stockton was riddled with three.
The former finished with six points, four rebounds and six assists, while the latter contributed 12 markers.
[RELATED STORY: Justin Arana on Converge's QF loss to Ginebra: 'Hindi pa naman tapos 'to']
“Hirap po kami sa adjustment kasi nagpi-play kami nang physical tapos sila naman, parang ganito, parang ang hirap po,” Pineda said.
“Sana kung ano 'yong syinu-show noong isa, sana pagbigyan din 'yong isang side. 'Wag naman pong ano. Kayo na po ang magsabi kung ano.”
But make no mistake about it, Pineda and Converge are not making any excuses.
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Right now, the FiberXers are hell-bent on making the necessary adjustments in time for their do-or-die game against the Gin Kings Sunday, Dec. 28 at the Big Dome.
“Sabi ko nga sa mga bata, take this as a challenge. Sana maging motivation sa'tin ‘tong nangyari na ‘to para next game, mas ma-improve pa namin ang game namin,” said Pineda.
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Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.