MAHINDRA and NLEX did not get off to the good start they wanted in the PBA Commissioner's Cup.
One is bound to get that much-needed breakthrough win when they clash Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The victor gets to break out of the cellar, which also has Blackwater as occupant. More important, either the Floodbuster or the Road Warriors would finally get that momentum they so direly need to get really going in the mid-season tourney.
For coach Chris Gavina, calling the shots for Mahindra in lieu of playing-coach Manny Pacquiao, just a little tinkering is needed by his team to rebound from its latest setback, a 95-99 overtime loss to reigning titlist Rain or Shine last Sunday.
"Coming off another tough loss against Rain or Shine that I feel we did a tremendous job of putting forth a great defensive effort and displayed offensive grit against the defending champs," said Gavina.
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"We reviewed plays that showed a little more attention to details on rebounding and making better decisions on shot selection as well as unnecessary fouls at the end of that game could have helped us in grinding out a win,"" added Gavina.
"The silver lining on that loss was that we showed we're capable of playing at a high level if we stay committed to our identity."
It's now a matter of putting the lessons learned from both the Elasto Painters game and an initial 86-94 loss to Meralco to good use.
"If we don't stray from maximizing each possession, sticking to our defensive game plan and showing true toughness on defense, I feel we can always put ourselves in an opportunity to win ballgames," stated Gavina.
With a bigger dilemma is NLEX, at least according to coach Yeng Guiao.
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In a 105-113 loss to Rain or Shine followed by an 84-91 setback to Meralco, the Road Warriors either failed to muster any telling run or simply collapsed when it mattered most, prompting Guiao to rue his team's apparent lack of improvement from its last-place finish in the Philippine Cup.
While maintaining the squad he handled starting only in October remains "a work in progress" and that fans need to be patient, Guiao stressed: "We can't wait too long."
Still, Guiao remains holding the belief that his NLEX side will eventually come around.
"We are hoping that it still comes together. It's just two games," he said.
"But there are only nine games left in the conference, eliminations, and I feel we need to win at least six in order to give ourselves a chance (to make) the playoffs," added Guiao.
