Gallent rues SMB semis loss: 'We weren't focused'
Published Mar 31, 2023 06:29 am
San Miguel Beer head coach Jorge Gallent felt his wards didn’t pour enough effort in their series against Barangay Ginebra and they got contented just by reaching the semifinals.
*SMB head coach Jorge Gallent felt his team got contented just reaching the semifinals (PBA Images)*
The veteran tactician had that take after the Beermen, for the first time in their franchise history, got swept in a best-of-five affair following an 87-85 loss at the hands of the Kings on Wednesday, March 29. “I think we were just happy to be in the semis. But this is San Miguel. We are supposed to be in the semis,” lamented Gallent who took over the coaching reins at SMB before the start of the season-ending conference. The Beermen actually performed well in Gallent's first official conference as head coach, finishing the eliminations as the second seed with a 9-2 record. SMB also easily dispatched Converge in the quarterfinals to set up what was thought to be a heavily contested series but turned out to be a lopsided one in favor of Ginebra. “I really have to find out why that thing happened,” Gallent said of the sudden downfall of SMB which for some stretch looked like a formidable title contender despite the absence of big man June Mar Fajardo. Gallent also felt that his charges failed to play SMB basketball and only rediscovered their identity in Game 3 although it came a little too late to salvage their conference. “Feeling ko, this was the first game eh, This is how we play. Games 1 and 2, I think we weren’t there. We weren’t focused,” said Gallent. “We just played a great team here in the semis, a well-coached team. Imagine, I was playing against the winningest coach sa PBA. It was an honor, but I didn’t like the sweep. But we’ll get them next time,” vowed the veteran tactician.
*SMB head coach Jorge Gallent felt his team got contented just reaching the semifinals (PBA Images)*
The veteran tactician had that take after the Beermen, for the first time in their franchise history, got swept in a best-of-five affair following an 87-85 loss at the hands of the Kings on Wednesday, March 29. “I think we were just happy to be in the semis. But this is San Miguel. We are supposed to be in the semis,” lamented Gallent who took over the coaching reins at SMB before the start of the season-ending conference. The Beermen actually performed well in Gallent's first official conference as head coach, finishing the eliminations as the second seed with a 9-2 record. SMB also easily dispatched Converge in the quarterfinals to set up what was thought to be a heavily contested series but turned out to be a lopsided one in favor of Ginebra. “I really have to find out why that thing happened,” Gallent said of the sudden downfall of SMB which for some stretch looked like a formidable title contender despite the absence of big man June Mar Fajardo. Gallent also felt that his charges failed to play SMB basketball and only rediscovered their identity in Game 3 although it came a little too late to salvage their conference. “Feeling ko, this was the first game eh, This is how we play. Games 1 and 2, I think we weren’t there. We weren’t focused,” said Gallent. “We just played a great team here in the semis, a well-coached team. Imagine, I was playing against the winningest coach sa PBA. It was an honor, but I didn’t like the sweep. But we’ll get them next time,” vowed the veteran tactician.