Pumaren eyes deepening Globalport bench moving forward

MANILA, Philippines – One of coach Franz Pumaren’s most important takeaways from Globalport’s loss to TNT in the quarterfinals is the dire reality of his bench.

“I think overall, we did pretty well, considering our lineup. I guess this game, it showed the depth of our opponent and the experience of our opponent,” he said after the BatangPier exited the 2017 PBA Philippine Cup with a 95-90 defeat to the KaTropa on Monday, February 6.

“I don’t think the coaching staff really prepared well for this game, it’s those little things that cost the game for us,” Pumaren added.

Globalport’s bench was sorely outmatched against TNT, 62-23, during Monday’s game. And the combined 41 points of main gunners Terrence Romeo and Stanley Pringle certainly weren’t enough to pull them through, especially as they rallied from a 20-point deficit in the first half.

In game 1, TNT held a 59-38 edge in bench production for the 109-101 victory.

The supporting cast is something Pumaren wants to address through trades in the near future, if given the chance.

“This is just a learning chapter for us. For us to compete with the big boys, at the end of the day, we still need players,” he said, though he noted it’s always been his coaching mindset to make do with whatever lineup he has.

“Even before the start of the season, I’ve been telling management, this team, we’re a playoff contender. But for us to move forward, we need at least two to 3 more players to fill in those gaps. This game, I think, it’s a strong validation that we have a very shallow bench.”

That lineup will soon include an import for the upcoming Commissioner’s Cup. The coach said they’re still looking at “several names.”

Despite the early exit, Pumaren acknowledged Globalport took a first good step in the right direction in his first official season as the team’s head coach.

“Of course, I’m disappointed we didn’t make it to the next round. I’ll be a hypocrite if I tell you I’m already satisfied,” he said. “But definitely what we achieved right now is quite successful in a way.”

Romeo, for his part, recognized that after nearly upsetting TNT in game 2, Globalport can go toe-to-toe with the league’s best in the playoffs despite its shallow bench.

“We always feel like we can compete with the other teams. The test really is how to finish games on a winning note,” the 24-year-old guard said in Filipino after he posted 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists.

“Just a little bit more. We’re still thankful to management, the coaching staff, and especially coach Franz for being very patient with us. Coach Franz is a great motivator. You’ll really reach your potential under coach Franz,” Romeo added. – Rappler.com