ROS coach Chris Gavina insists panic 'not in our culture'

Coach Chris Gavina says that Rain Or Shine will never get panic. PBA Images

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Being at the middle of the team standings ahead of a Friday noontime battle against Magnolia, Rain Or Shine is aware that a loss could still keep the team in serious danger, all the more that they came from back-to-back defeats.

In fact, Coach Chris Gavina bared that before the game, someone asked him if he is ready to press the panic button with three matches left in the elimination round.

"I was asked today, 'Is there a sense of panic on our team?'" Gavina revealed.

He then said he answered the question with a strong statement.

"It's not in our culture," Gavina relayed his reply. "Fear to us means 'face everything and rise'."

The Elasto Painters' grace under pressure was put to the test at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym when they, despite key baskets down the stretch, could not close out the Hotshots.

After a Mark Barroca runner with 56 seconds left, his Magnolia teammates forced ROS to a 24-second violation, giving them the ball back with 32.5 seconds to work with.

The E-Painters recovered as their defense forced a tough three-pointer from Paul Lee that he missed, but Javee Mocon still kept the Hotshots in the ballgame by only making 1-of-2 from the foul line off a Calvin Abueva foul.

Jerrick Ahanmisi was even left open for a three-pointer that could send the game to overtime, but luckily for ROS, he missed the equalizer as time ran out on Magnolia.

For Mocon, who finished with 19 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and three steals, the 75-72 win was evidence of why panic will never be in the vocabulary of the Elasto Painters who are in sixth place in the team standings at 5-4.

"We really need this so badly to enter the playoffs. Coach has been preaching confidence, staying as a team, and togetherness. Ito ang result nun," Mocon said.

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