PBA: Jeffrey Cariaso on Ginebra defense: 'Nawawala siya'

While the triangle offense is slowly coming together for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, the fan favorites struggled anew from the other end of the floor with a defensive meltdown against GlobalPort on Sunday.

 

The Gin Kings absorbed their third consecutive loss in the conference after failing to stop Batang Pier's shootout en route to a 98-77 beating. The team earlier lost to Meralco in similar fashion, allowing the Bolts to escape with an offensive onslaught.

 

"Can't find our defense right now, nawawala siya," head coach Jeffrey Cariaso told reporters after the game. "What made us successful early in the conference is our defense and we can't seem to find that."

 

Ginebra opened their campaign with a 5-1 card for a share of the second spot, only bowing down to NLEX in their first six games. But after losing to sister team San Miguel Beer, the Kings were afflicted with a defensive slump.

 

"I don't know what happened," Cariaso said. "Hopefully we'll be able to recover and find it again."

 

GlobalPort was able to shoot a whopping 48 percent from the field against Ginebra, going 10-of-26 from beyond the arc. The Batang Pier also scored 21 points in transition, taking advantage of the Kings's slow defensive recovery.

 

"They were making all their shots. Gotta give credit is credit is due," Cariaso said of GlobalPort.

 

Despite his team's poor showing in the last three games, the coach remains positive that they will be able to bounce back from their losses.

 

"There's only one way to go but up. Hopefully we are mature enough to understand there's still two games," he said.

 

Ginebra's last two assignments for the elimination round are league-leading Alaska and third-ranked Rain or Shine. — JST, GMA News