Players of the Cebu City Sharks try to get the attention of game officials in this MPBL photo of a game against Bacoor last June 21 in Muntinlupa./from MPBL Facebook page
Frustration level at a high as Cebu City Sharks go scoreless in one quarter of MPBL game against Manila
It certainly can’t get any worse, can it?
The Cebu City Sharks-Casino Ethyl Alcohol have been left to ask this question among many as frustrations continue to pile up in their maiden campaign in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Datu Cup.
The Sharks suffered their fourth loss in a row on Tuesday night at the Cuneta Astrodome, with a 107-76 loss to the Manila Stars. More than the loss was how they lost as the Sharks went on a scoring drought of historic proportions in the first period, which ended by the score of 27-0.
It wasn’t until three minutes into the second when the Cebu team finally cracked the scoring column, which by then the Stars had already established a 29-0 lead.
Veteran gunner Patrick Cabahug did not mince words in describing their anemic performance in that fateful first period.
“It was embarrassing,” said the Cebuano, who led the Sharks in scoring with 28 points.
In Cebu’s Cesafi basketball tournament, the lowest output for a team in a single period is two points, by the University of Cebu (UC) in 2016. UC was headed for a shutout against the University of the Visayas before JR Puerto – who ironically is now playing for the Sharks – scored on two free throws with 0.7 of a second remaining in the first quarter.
“Of course, it’s frustrating. The whole of Cebu is expecting a lot of us and that is to at least win a game. We have to remain positive and learn from this. We have to stay together as a team and use this as motivation to fight even harder in our next game,” shared Cabahug, the former Adamson Falcon.
Playing as individuals
The Sharks are near their breaking point with a source disclosing that frustration levels are so high that an argument between a player and a coach broke out in the dugout over a timeout not being called to douse water on a scoring run by the Stars.
Shot selection or the apparent lack thereof is also a growing concern among players.
“Every day, lumalaban kami sa practice at binubuhos namin lahat. Maganda naman nilalaro namin sa ensayo pero pagdating sa actual game, nawawala kami kasi one or two passes pa lang, tinitira na agad,” said reserve wingman Iron Suano, a product of the University of San Jose-Recoletos.
“Hindi rin kami dumedepensa ng maayos. We’re playing as individuals when we are out there on the court. That’s one thing that we’re struggling with. That has to change,” he added, referring to the fact that Manila shot 60 percent from the field.
Cabahug, though, continues to implore his teammates to pick themselves up.
“We have to change our mindset and really believe that we can compete in this league and win. We’ve got to continue to grow as a team. Our record won’t define us, it is how we continue to fight, get better and get ready for our next game and hopefully win,” he said.
But the road just gets even harder for the Sharks as they next face the reigning champions Batangas City Athletics on August 2 at the latter’s home floor.