PLAY without pressure.
This was the order Petron Blaze mentor Ato Agustin gave to the Boosters before Game Four of the 2011 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.
And it worked wonders as the Boosters tied the best-of-seven championship series at 2-2 following an impressive 105-83 victory over Talk ’N Text on Sunday.
“Tinatanong ko sila bakit tayo magpapa-pressure? Dapat wala sa amin ang pressure and the pressure should be on their side kasi pa-grand slam sila,” said Agustin, minutes after taking their first convincing win in the series.
Petron drew the first blood in the series, 89-88, thanks to Danny Ildefonso’s buzzer-beater baseline jumper.
But in the next two games, the Boosters were beaten badly by the Tropang Texters. The wards of coach Chot Reyes took Game Two, 103-85, in Lanao del Norte then pummeled Petron by 27 points, 132-105, in Game Three.
Agustin said they were routed on consecutive games because his players forgot the most important ingredient in basketball.
“Sabi ko lang sa kanila just enjoy playing the game and be smart. Hindi porke’t nanalo kami ng Game One, kaya na namin sila. Baligtad ang nangyari, sa amin napunta ang pressure and in Game Four, they played without pressure kaya nanalo kami,” he said.
Arwind Santos was back to his usual self in Game Four after going 0-of-8 in Game Three to finish with only three points. The Best Player of the Conference had 20 points and 14 rebounds on Sunday night.
Petron’s bench also delivered with Dennis Miranda scoring 19 besides containing the deadly guards of Talk ’N Text (Jimmy Alapag and Jayson Castro).
Alex Cabagnot was a picture of consistency for Petron in Game Four with 16 points, seven rebounds and as many assists, while import Anthony Grundy contributed 16 points and eight feeds.
Reyes blamed fatigue for their listless performance in Game Four.
“We have to find ways. We’re playing 10 months already, 70-plus games, played the most number of games at the highest level than any other team,” said Reyes.
“So, it is really taking its toll, the fatigue, physically and emotionally, and the mental strain and drain,” he added.
Reyes said Agustin and the Boosters made the right adjustments in Game Four and it was evident that they wanted the game more than his Tropang Texters.
“The biggest difference was they wanted it more and what was more disappointing, we didn’t want it badly,” Reyes reasoned out.
In Photo: Arwind Santos of Petron and Jayson Castro of Talk ‘N Text show intensity in Game Four of the Governors’ Cup finals series. (Roy Domingo)
