Red Bull a bit lax in title series

Red Bull Barako team manager Tony Chua felt his team was a bit lax while Barangay Ginebra stayed focused throughout the title series as the Kings vanquished the Thunder for the Gran Matador PBA Fiesta Conference championship Wednesday night.

"Ginebra did its homework well. They’re hungrier and maybe that’s the reason why they were more focused in the series than us," said Chua after the Kings denied them a third PBA crown before a throng of fans.

"Our team, on the other hand, became lax. Complacency did us in," Chua added.

The amiable Red Bull team manager, however, stressed he’s proud of what his team has achieved, considering all the adversities and trials they had to overcome to make the finals.

"After all the problems we encountered in the tournament, talagang magandang achievement na sa amin ito," said Chua.

The Thunder gained the distinction the "Comeback Kid" of the tournament after surviving trials including five import changes, a 25-point deficit versus Shell in a wildcard knockout tiff, ouster of coach Yeng Guiao against San Miguel in the quarterfinals and a 0-1 hole versus Coke in the semifinals.

Guiao said combination of hardwork and luck carried them to the finals. Alas, the Thunder ran out of luck in the finals.

Ginebra finished off Red Bull Barako in four games, clinching the crown with a 103-86 rout before a crowd of over 16,000 at the Big Dome.

Chua said his team will take a brief rest before resuming practice sessions in August.

Meanwhile, Chua expressed regrets they still have yet to receive official statement from the PBA Commissioner’s Office regarding the controversial dragon dance staged by Ginebra-hired talents in Game Two last Friday.

"Unfortunately, while we have received words of apology from San Miguel Corp. top management who have apologized profusely for the incident, there has been no official statement from the Office of the Commissioner as of this writing," said Photokina Marketing Corp. senior vice president George Balagtas in a letter of protest to league chairman Buddy Encarnado.

PBA commissioner Noli Eala has told The STAR: "It’s regrettable. As far as we are concerned that (the incident) should not happen. The spirit of sportsmanship was disparaged. That can’t be tolerated."