FIBA Asia hangover: Norwood, Chan struggle in RoS' 1st loss

MANILA, Philippines – The heavy rains finally stopped and so did Rain or Shine’s two-game winning streak in the PBA Governors’ Cup.

After starting the conference with two straight wins, the Elasto Painters took a nosedive in a lackluster 84-99 loss to the resurgent Petron Blaze Boosters Friday night.

Elijah Millsap fuelled the Blaze Boosters’ early breakaway scoring eight points in the opening quarter on his way to his best game in the tournament.

The prolific import finished with 33 points on top of 13 rebounds, three assists and four steals.

Gabe Norwood, who earned his cap as Gilas Pilipinas’ best wing defender, took full responsibility of Millsap’s scoring outburst.

“I came out and gave up a couple of easy baskets and that gives him the rhythm going early and that’s when it’s tough to stop the guy who scored,” Norwood told Philstar.com referring to Petron’s import.

“He’s been a scorer all of his life. I let him get going and I take responsibility for that,” Norwood added.

The Rain or Shine athletic big guard was a picture of frustration on both ends of the floor. While he allowed Millsap to dominate the game, Norwood missed all of his six shots and just scored on free throws to finish with only two points in 24 minutes of play.

“I don’t think [fatigue is the reason]. I just need to play better.”

Another Gilas player Jeff Chan also struggled to find his rhythm after his fine showing in the FIBA Asia Championship.

Chan was slightly better than Norwood offensively going 1-of-6 in 21 minutes to end up with only one triple and two freebies to his name.

“Medyo nangangapa pa. Kasi nga kulang pa sa practice dahil bumagyo, nagka-three days break kami,” Chan explained.”

Chan admitted that he’s still having a FIBA Asia hangover.

“Siguro kailangan lang namin isipin ni Gabe [Norwood] na tapos na ang FIBA [Asia Championship], na kailangan na namin talagang bumalik dito [sa PBA]. Harapin na natin ito, parang ganun,” Chan told Philstar.com on his way out of the Smart Araneta Coliseum after that embarrassing loss.

“Kasi alam natin na ‘di kami gagamitin ng ganung katagal sa laro kasi nga 2-3 months kaming nawala eh.”

But the deadshot from Bacolod said that Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao told them there’s no time to relax.

“Sabi ni coach [Yeng Guiao] ‘di na puwede. Kailangan na namin talagang bumalik sa rotation as soon as possible,” said Chan, who noted that he has yet to play with Norwood on the floor at the same time.  

While Guiao has found ways to win with the two Gilas boys sitting on the bench in the conference opener and only playing limited minutes in a 20-point blowout win in the next game, it will no longer be the case from hereon.

Especially with the Commissioner’s Cup champion Alaska Aces next in their schedule on Wednesday.

Both teams will be seeking to bounce back with the Aces suffering a heartbreaking 88-91 conference-debut loss to GlobalPort Batang Pier also last [Friday] night.

“Malamang sa next game, ‘yun na talaga ‘yung full rotation na namin [ang maglalaro],” Chan said.

Chan and Norwood will have five more days to blend themselves back in the mix.