BLOODIED but unbowed.
Erstwhile defending champion Nueva Ecija fell short in its bid for a second straight title in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season, according to Rice Vanguards team owner Bong Cuevas.
“My players didn’t play well, we played, honestly, we played against a stronger team. Last year’s team was for me, stronger than this team than San Juan,” Cuevas said. They had more people, they had a complete line-up, wala silang injury last year, and this team, ngayon na marami nawalang player ang San Juan.
“It’s just that our boys did not perform well, and way below their. . .my level of expectations kaya sila natalo,” he added.
Cuevas spoke after No. 2 Nueva Ecija dropped an 80-88 loss to sixth-ranked San Juan three nights back in Game 2 of their best-of-3 North division semifinals duel at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City.
Former PBA player Michael Calisaan notched 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Knights, while Rence Nocum added 17 markets, five boards, and five assists.
Nikko Panganiban also had 12 points, four caroms, and six dimes as San Juan forged a race-to-2 division finals showdown with powerhouse Pampanga.
The effervescent sportsman Cuevas offered no excuses in the Rice Vanguards’ campaign, convinced they will bounce back big next season.
“Ang sinabi ko lang kay coach Jerson is, hindi lang kay coach Jerson pati sa lahat ng players ko. Ang sabi ko sa kanila, I will evaluate this season very well because malaki palagi expectations for Nueva Ecija to perform. Nakita ninyo naman kung gaano karami ang nanonood kapag Nueva Ecija ang naglalaro,” he said. “For me, ang pinaka-importante is I cannot let ang mga kababayan ko down with a team that did not perform to its level of expectations.
“So, definitely sinabi ko kay Jerson, I will re-evaluate everything from the coaching staff to the players because I have to come up with a better team, a much better team. To follow the evolution of MPBL, lahat ng team sa MPBL are already re-tooling, the game has evolved, and maraming bata na.”
The trio of former PBA players Will McAloney, Jonathan Uyloan, and Chris Bitoon showed the way for the charges of coach Jerson Cabiltes.
McAloney wound up with 21 points and four rebounds, while Uyloan boomed in five three-pointers and finished with 15 markers and four feeds.