B-MEG relaxed, ready for Game Five

AKTV/Paolo Papa

Peter June Simon was all smiles, and there was no trace of grief on his face a day after B-MEG’s 100-85 loss to Talk ‘N Text the previous night. Simon had a miserable performance, scoring just five points. The gunner from Makilala, Cotabato found his touches limited by the Tropang Texters defense — he shot the ball just five times all game — and didn’t score a field goal until late in the fourth quarter with the game already decided.

“Ganyan ang laging sinasabi sa amin ni Coach Tim [Cone]. Pag nananalo, not too high. Ngayon namang natalo, not too low,” said Simon.

He acknowledged that Talk ‘N Text did a good job defending him and denying him the ball, and he said he’s learned not to force the issue. “Decoy na lang muna,” he said, adding that he expects Cone to come up with adjustments to allow the Llamados better looks at the basket.

Point guard Josh Urbiztondo, who was in the middle of a bizarre sequence of plays to end Game Four, said the Llamados have put that debacle behind them.

“Coach Tim’s been telling us to look at the big picture — keep our eyes on the prize,” said Urbiztondo, who was hit by Talk ‘N Text guard Pamboy Raymundo with an elbow late in Game Four in the incident that started a scuffle.

“We don’t even think about what happened anymore. After all, they just tied the series.”

Top gun James Yap, who shot a miserable 1-of-9 from three-point line in the previous game, chalked up the loss to Talk ‘N Text’s good start. “Medyo naunahan lang kami,” he said. The Tropang Texters took a 47-35 lead at halftime, which it never relinquished in Game Four.

“Ganyan talaga ang basketball eh, minsan malas. Tulad ni PJ, ang ganda ng laro nung Game One, tapos kagabi medyo minalas. Pero kami, support lang kami sa kanya,” he said.

“Basta ang importante, sabi ko nga, kailangan hindi kami ma-discourage.”

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