Veteran journeyman Jerwin Gaco was left humiliated after his McDavid suffered a 31-106 annihilation at the hands of the Cignal-Ateneo Blue Eagles in the 2019 PBA D-League, Tuesday afternoon at the JCSGO Gym in Cubao.
Gaco, who’s coming off a title run with Go for Gold Scratchers in the 2018 Foundation Cup, lamented that Tuesday’s loss – which was just a point shy of tying the record for biggest winning margin in the D-League – was the worst of his career.
“Sa buong career ko, ngayon lang ako natambakan ng ganun kalaki,” said the 38-year-old, who has won a total of five championships in the PBA – including a Grand Slam feat with San Mig Coffee Mixers in the 2013-2014 season.
Gaco rued McDavid’s shortage of personnel, which played a major factor in the defeat, as only nine players suited up in the match. Even head coach Allen Ricardo wasn’t in attendance, since he is currently in the United States.
“Nagkulang din talaga kami sa players,” said the ex-pro.
But beyond that, Gaco said that facing a school-based team was challenging for a club like McDavid despite being made up of veterans, as they simply had no answers for Ateneo’s excellent execution on both ends.
Cignal-Ateneo shot 50.5 percent from the floor – including 16-of-31 from outside – while limiting McDavid to just 21.6 percent. They also forced McDavid to commit a total of 22 turnovers, which the Blue Eagles converted to 28 points.
That stifling defense limited McDavid to the lowest output in the developmental league’s history, erasing the PC Gilmore Wizards’ 41 points in a 41-71 loss to the Boracay Rum Waves back in January 10, 2012.
“Nabigla din kami sa depensa nila sa’min. Ang ganda ng depensa nila, na kami hindi kami maka-execute sa opensa. Makaka-depensa nga kami ng maayos, pero it will end up in a three-pointer. Nakaka-frustrate din,” said Gaco.
“Ang dami nilang three-points. First half pa lang, I think mga [nine] na.”
But as frustrating as the match was, Gaco and his team are now moving on, as they have their sights set on bouncing back in their next game, which will be versus another school-based team in Ironcon-UST on April 29.
“Siyempre bawi na lang next game.”
