Hauling Out Of The Brink

A 1-3 start in a conference is nothing new for San Mig Coffee. In fact, the Mixers opened up the season the same way and still managed to make it deep in the playoffs of the PBA Philippine Cup.

Yet coach Tim Cone knows his team has to make its move now, specifically against GlobalPort Wednesday in the PBA Governors Cup at the C

uneta Astrodome.

Both San Mig Coffee and GlobalPort are aching to bounce back from sorry losses their last time out and a win would not only put each back on track but also stoke their bid to make it among the top eight advancing to the playoffs following the nine-game eliminations.

But although the Batang Pier are trying to put behind them a 95-102 defeat to Talk N Text last Sunday, they are still better off than San Mig Coffee.

An 83-89 loss to Petron Blaze last Saturday was the Mixers’ third in four games, putting them in a position that would eventually be only good for eighth-running spot.

“We’ve dug ourselves a hole with our 1-3 record and now we have to dig ourselves out,” said Cone, not really caring to dwell too much on a bit of franchise history.

In the last 22 years only once has the franchise originally known as Purefoods had a 1-4 start in an import-laden conference. That was during the 2007 Fiesta Cup, when it wound up a dismal eighth.

In this season’s Philippine Cup, the Mixers even made it as far as third but Cone has his sights on a return to the finals.

GlobalPort must be hurdled first.

“It’s going to be a tough climb for us, but we’ve gotten off to slow starts before and these guys know how to handle it,” pointed out Cone.

“We can’t have a do-over so we have to start from here, meaning the GlobalPort game. It’s not too late, but it will soon be unless we start turning things around immediately. That’s our challenge.”

GlobalPort has its own hill to climb and coach Junel Baculi said extra work must be put in now for his team to realize the improvement — and wins — it is craving for.

“We’ve got to work harder. I don’t want to put the blame on anybody but ourselves. We just got to work on some things. I told the players we can beat any team. We just got to work harder and play together. Hopefully we could get some good break,s but it’s a tough game again against San Mig,” said Baculi.

“I think it’s more on the mental side because these guys work hard, but sometimes they get frustrated,” he added.

“We have to have the right attitude, whatever comes our way. Thats’ the mark of a true champion. If we want to be a champ in this league, it’s hard work. We control the things that we can, it’s an adage na laging sinasabi.” (NC)

Source: http://pba.inquirer.net/30003/hauling-out-of-the-brink