Kabiguan sa Jordan, hamon sa Nationals

TAIPEI — Dismayado ang mga miyembro ng Powerade RP training pool ngunit hindi naman nawalan ng pag-asa ba-gamat lumasap ng 31 puntos na pagkatalo sa kamay ng Jordan sa panimula ng 31st Williams Jones Cup competition noong Sabado.

Ang bawat isa ay kumbinsido na hindi pa ito ang tunay nilang laro kung saan binugbog sila ng Jordan sa pamamagitan ng 90-59 panalo.

“It’s not our game. Obviously, everyone’s not in game shape since they had not played a game in a long while,” ani Jayjay Helterbrand.

“There’s hardly fluidity in our game. Nagkakapaan probably because we had not played a game since SEABA. We couldn’t play 5-on-5 in practice since not once had we got at least 10 players attending a session,” wika naman ni Kerby Raymundo.

“Some couldn’t join the practice since they still had games to play in the PBA. Some went to the US. We’re all together again just now,” dagdag pa ni Raymundo.

Sa katunayan, nanood lamang sina Helterbrand, Cyrus Baguio at Mick Pennisi sa laro nang kararating lamang nila dito na nagsisimula na ang laro. Hindi naman makakalaro si Ryan Reyes na injured pa rin.

Optimisitko ang Nationals na mailalabas nila ang kanilang laban habang tumatagal ang laro sa Jones Cup hanggang bago ang FIBA-Asia Championship sa Tianjin, China sa Agosto 6-16.

Umaasa din si RP coach Yeng Guiao na magiging positibo ang responde ng Nationals sa tinamong ka-biguan sa Jordan.

“Two things can happen, the team would get disappointed or take it as wake-up call. Hopefully, the guys take it as a wake-up call and feel the sense of urgency that we still have a lot to do and far away to go,” ani Guiao.