Uichico offers no excuses
December 7, 2001 | 12:00am
In six previous Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) finals series, San Miguel Beer coach Joseph Uichico has lost only a single Game 1. Ominously, the loss came in the only finals where San Miguel wound up second. That was in this years Commissioners Cup finals against Red Bull.
Now, Uichico finds himself in the same unfamiliar situation. Hes won championships in the five finals where San Miguel drew first blood. Last Wednesday, Sta. Lucia Realty got the jump on the Beermen and took a 1-0 series lead via an 86-80 decision in the Governors Cup finals.
But Uichico isnt surprised. And hes far from panicking. Uichico says he knew the Realtors would play on an emotional high, coming from a 1-2 series deficit to whip Pop Cola in Game 5 of the semis last Sunday. He wouldve preferred San Miguel to play Sta. Lucia last Sunday to avoid a long 7-day layoff. But as it turned out, the Beermen had too much of a rest.
Was it a case of rust? Uichico isnt discounting the possibility. "Thats the danger of a long layoff you get a little stale, you tend to lose a bit of emotion," says Uichico. "In our style of practice, we dont really scrimmage so theres a tendency to get rusty with a long layoff. I think we waited too long for Game 1."
Still, Uichico offers no excuses for San Miguels setback.
"They were quicker to the ball than we were," he notes. "Were a team that usually doesnt win on blowouts because we dont fastbreak. So every point counts. In Game 1, we gave up three points on technical foul shots because of illegal defense violations and we lost by six. We gave up too many transition points and too many crucial putbacks. Imagine their big guys scoring layups in transition. We werent as aggressive and Sta. Lucia was all pumped up."
The Realtors scored 10 fastbreak points, to San Miguels four, and collected 22 turnover points, to the Beermens 16. Sta. Lucia got its running game going from turnovers and outlets off defensive rebounds.
Uichico says he wasnt surprised that coach Norman Black posted up import Damian Owens. "Thats what they did in Game 5 against Pop," he continues. "Owens invites the double and passes out. We knew it was coming. What hurt us was (Dennis) Espino sinking jumpers from Owens passes and (Marlou) Aquino scoring on cuts. But we had to double Owens or else hell score."
For the fourth straight game, Freddie Abuda didnt play because of a sprain. Uichico says hes monitoring Abudas progress before deciding whether or not to play him. However, if Abuda plays, hell likely match up against Owens. That will take away minutes from Danny Seigle and Dwight Lago because Lamont Strothers is a fixture at either No. 2 or No. 3. So its a Catch-22 problem for Uichico.
Dorian Peña stepped up in Game 1 but left the game early after suffering a sprain. He finished with 11 points and 17 rebounds in 29 minutes. Whether hell play in Game 2 is still a question mark. Uichico says Peñas being iced and getting treatment. If the ankle swells, hell be doubtful for Game 2 tonight.
Uichico says the atmosphere in the San Miguel lockerroom was gloomy after the loss but hopeful. Itll take four losses to beat us in the finals, not one," he continues. "The important thing is we dont give Sta. Lucia the confidence to think they can win the series. Winning Game 1 doesnt give them that confidence. Going up 2-0 might."
Uichico says its his job to set the plays for Strothers to pass off when he penetrates a clogged lane. "Lamont knows how to pass and when to pass," he explains. "But hes got to know where the open man is. Its my job to tell him."
Strothers inability to find an open man led to several poor shots he hit only 10-of-31 from the floor and botched plays. Relying mainly on isolations to exploit mismatches, San Miguel compiled only 10 assists to Sta. Lucias 17.
"Its tough to play Sta. Lucia because even if Lamont gets past Owens, theres a 6-9 guy waiting inside to block his layup," says Uichico.
Clearly, Sta. Lucia took away Strothers outside shot to funnel him inside where Aquino and Espino waited in ambush.
Uichico says he expects the Beermen to go all out in Game 2. "Well be fired up," he promises. There will be adjustments but of course, hes not disclosing whats in the works.
Uichico says hes sticking to his pre-finals prediction that it will go six or seven. Which team does he pick to win? Uichico just laughs he knows better than to answer that one.
Now, Uichico finds himself in the same unfamiliar situation. Hes won championships in the five finals where San Miguel drew first blood. Last Wednesday, Sta. Lucia Realty got the jump on the Beermen and took a 1-0 series lead via an 86-80 decision in the Governors Cup finals.
But Uichico isnt surprised. And hes far from panicking. Uichico says he knew the Realtors would play on an emotional high, coming from a 1-2 series deficit to whip Pop Cola in Game 5 of the semis last Sunday. He wouldve preferred San Miguel to play Sta. Lucia last Sunday to avoid a long 7-day layoff. But as it turned out, the Beermen had too much of a rest.
Was it a case of rust? Uichico isnt discounting the possibility. "Thats the danger of a long layoff you get a little stale, you tend to lose a bit of emotion," says Uichico. "In our style of practice, we dont really scrimmage so theres a tendency to get rusty with a long layoff. I think we waited too long for Game 1."
Still, Uichico offers no excuses for San Miguels setback.
"They were quicker to the ball than we were," he notes. "Were a team that usually doesnt win on blowouts because we dont fastbreak. So every point counts. In Game 1, we gave up three points on technical foul shots because of illegal defense violations and we lost by six. We gave up too many transition points and too many crucial putbacks. Imagine their big guys scoring layups in transition. We werent as aggressive and Sta. Lucia was all pumped up."
The Realtors scored 10 fastbreak points, to San Miguels four, and collected 22 turnover points, to the Beermens 16. Sta. Lucia got its running game going from turnovers and outlets off defensive rebounds.
Uichico says he wasnt surprised that coach Norman Black posted up import Damian Owens. "Thats what they did in Game 5 against Pop," he continues. "Owens invites the double and passes out. We knew it was coming. What hurt us was (Dennis) Espino sinking jumpers from Owens passes and (Marlou) Aquino scoring on cuts. But we had to double Owens or else hell score."
For the fourth straight game, Freddie Abuda didnt play because of a sprain. Uichico says hes monitoring Abudas progress before deciding whether or not to play him. However, if Abuda plays, hell likely match up against Owens. That will take away minutes from Danny Seigle and Dwight Lago because Lamont Strothers is a fixture at either No. 2 or No. 3. So its a Catch-22 problem for Uichico.
Dorian Peña stepped up in Game 1 but left the game early after suffering a sprain. He finished with 11 points and 17 rebounds in 29 minutes. Whether hell play in Game 2 is still a question mark. Uichico says Peñas being iced and getting treatment. If the ankle swells, hell be doubtful for Game 2 tonight.
Uichico says the atmosphere in the San Miguel lockerroom was gloomy after the loss but hopeful. Itll take four losses to beat us in the finals, not one," he continues. "The important thing is we dont give Sta. Lucia the confidence to think they can win the series. Winning Game 1 doesnt give them that confidence. Going up 2-0 might."
Uichico says its his job to set the plays for Strothers to pass off when he penetrates a clogged lane. "Lamont knows how to pass and when to pass," he explains. "But hes got to know where the open man is. Its my job to tell him."
Strothers inability to find an open man led to several poor shots he hit only 10-of-31 from the floor and botched plays. Relying mainly on isolations to exploit mismatches, San Miguel compiled only 10 assists to Sta. Lucias 17.
"Its tough to play Sta. Lucia because even if Lamont gets past Owens, theres a 6-9 guy waiting inside to block his layup," says Uichico.
Clearly, Sta. Lucia took away Strothers outside shot to funnel him inside where Aquino and Espino waited in ambush.
Uichico says he expects the Beermen to go all out in Game 2. "Well be fired up," he promises. There will be adjustments but of course, hes not disclosing whats in the works.
Uichico says hes sticking to his pre-finals prediction that it will go six or seven. Which team does he pick to win? Uichico just laughs he knows better than to answer that one.
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