IT was a tough loss, but nonetheless the kind Phoenix needs to experience if it is to move on to the next level.
Coach Louie Alas felt for his team after a 108-103 defeat over Meralco in overtime crushed its hopes of making the semifinals for the first very time.
The Fuel Masters made the playoffs as the no. 2 seeded team for a twice-to-beat advantage against the seventh seeded Bolts, but also lost two times, including the do-or-die encounter at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in which they bungled a 16-point second quarter lead.
Looking back, Alas believed Meralco's playoffs experience proved to be the big difference as the Bolts never wavered even when down by a double-digit deficit and trailing by as many as seven points inside the final four minutes of regulation.
"It's within our control, and hindi namin na-control," said Alas as he pondered on what went wrong in the biggest game in Phoenix's franchise history. "Yun ang experience na ibinigay ng Meralco sa amin.
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"For us to go to the next level, kailangan ma-experience mo yung deeper playoffs," added Alas. "We're almost there."
The loss should toughened up the Fuel Masters as a unit, according to Alas, something which should come in handy for Phoenix next season.
The team owns two first round picks in the coming rookie draft from which Alas hopes to get additional pieces to his young squad.
"Lesson learned. We just have to come back stronger sa All-Filipino," said Alas. "It's a process, pero dapat yung proseso namin nag-uumpisa ng mag reap ng fruits so we're expecting that next year." (RG)
