The Green Archers started the Fil-Oil Flying V Pre-Season Hanes Cup opening day in defeat against reigning NCAA titlist San Beda Red Lions, 63-69 at the San Juan Arena last April 14.
Head Coach Gee Abanilla breaks the game ball to basket.
System failure
We [Green Archers] ran away from our system. We did not execute it properly.
It was kind of disappointing because we looked really good in practice, but during that [DLSU against San Beda] game, with the crowd cheering for them, I think they played for the crowd.
I think, they ran away from what [system] we are doing, and that is the sad part about it.
It is a team game
I stressed it [to the team] that you have got to put your egos behind for the common good of the team.
We cannot have the notion that whoever scores the basket is the guy who played the best in that game because this is basketball, and basketball is a team game.
Whatever happens, even if you score many [but] you lose, it [high scores] does not matter.
So my emphasis is more of playing as a team, making that extra effort, [and] the extra passes so that your teammates can work better with you.
It is not about individual honor.
Lessons from the Lions
It’s a good chance for us that we played and lost against San Beda. The good thing about is [that it is still] very early [in the competition].
We can do something about it.
Their aggressiveness and their intensity was great.
I think they played very good defense and they [San Beda] have become cohesive.
But then again, we [Green Archers] showed that we could match them, especially during the fourth quarter—we won that quarter [29-20].
Unfortunately, [during] the first three quarters, we strayed away from what we were [supposed to be] doing and, which cost us [the game].
We were not executing well.We played lousy, really lousy.
Rookies in the rotation
We have many rookies right now; they came in late; which means that we have to go back again and work on the basics because we have got to start off on day one for them.
It has sidetracked us a little because we are not on the same page right now.
I think we have got good kids [rookies] anyway.Hopefully, they would fit in really well.
Preparations for the upcoming games
It’s the same thing—we have got to work on what we are supposed to do.
In the leagues we have been joining, no scouting is involved.
It’s more on minding your self and your team only.Our focus right now is in making our team better.
Quarter scores: 6-13 22-31 34-49 63-69