San Sebastian College-Recoletos has been dubbed as the comeback kids of NCAA Season 100 for its ability to mount a strong fourth quarter and erase huge deficits. But so far, the Stags have been falling short of completing these come-from-behind attempts.
This, according to veteran guard Raymart Escobido, shows that the Stags have to put in the work right at the tip-off instead of staging a surge down the stretch.
"Kaya nga sabi ko sa kanila start pa lang ng game, pukpok na dapat ‘yung laro namin para hindi na kami hahabol," Escobido told GMA News Online.
"Ewan ko rin bakit sa dulo na lang kami lagi bubuhos eh. May kulang pa talaga siguro sa amin. Kulang kami sa finisher tsaka sa bigs."
[That's why I said to them, we should be working hard right from the start of the game so we don't have to catch up... I don't know why we only give it everything at the end. There may be something lacking from us still. We still need more finishers and bigs.]
San Sebastian opened its campaign with a statement, gutting out a pair of huge victories over contenders Letran and Lyceum for a surprise 2-0 start. But ever since then, the wins have proved elusive for the Stags.
They have lost six games in a row to suddenly see themselves sitting at the cellar with a 2-6 card. But those losses almost went their way had they completed the fourth quarter turnaround.
Of their six defeats, the Stags managed to stage a late rally in four games, pulling to within single digit deficits before losing steam in the dying seconds to bow to San Beda, JRU, and Perpetual.
They then erased a massive 26-point hole against league-leading De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde and forced an overtime, but still lost due to a game-winner from Jhomel Ancheta.
But amidst the free fall, Escobido stays defiant as they look to resuscitate their campaign with only a game left in the first round before heading to the second half of the season.
"Sabi ni coach, laro na lang daw kami at walang bibitaw daw kasi may second round pa naman. Todo na lang namin ‘yung mga bibigay namin at tsaka double effort na lang," Escobido added.
"Bubuhos kami sa second round para makahabol kami sa standing."
[Coach said just play don't give up because there's still the second round. Just give it our all and double effort. We'll pour everything we have into the second round so we can catch up in the standings.]
San Sebastian rookie coach Arvin Bonleon echoed his seasoned guard, saying they have to rediscover the form they displayed during their first two assignments.
"Sabi lang namin na ibalik namin ‘yung championship game kasi at least bago tayo pumasok ng second round, may momentum tayo," Bonleon said.
"Siguro as early as first quarter talagang magfu-full court na kami kasi ayun ‘yung strength namin."
[We just want to bring back our championship game and build momentum before we enter the second round. I think as early as the first quarter, we'll play full court because that's where our strength lies.]
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
