Pacquiao blames Purefoods loss on KIA stamina

RIZAL, Philippines — Playing coach Manny Pacquiao admitted KIA Sorento sputtered and ultimately lost to defending Grand Slam champions Purefoods Star Hotshots because they lacked the stamina to play toe-to-toe with their foes in the endgame. 

KIA nearly upset Purefoods on Wednesday, November 26 after playing well enough in the first 3 quarters but fell short in the pivotal fourth to absorb their 8th straight defeat. 

“Maganda yung pinakita ng players, maganda yung depensa. Yun lang, sa last quarter, naubusan na ng stamina,” Pacquiao explained after his team fell, 88-77, to the now 5-3 Hotshots. (The players did well, the defense was good. But our stamina did not hold up in the last quarter.)

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Playing inspired with the return of their playing coach, KIA gave Purefoods a scare and led by as much as 52-43 in the third and also took a 57-51 edge heading into the fourth.

But Mark Barroca and Joe Devance conspired for the fourth quarter rally, which KIA was unable to answer.

Pacquiao, who returned to the PBA just 3 days after his win over Chris Algieri in Macau, said the team must improve its conditioning as they attempt to make the playoffs.

“Maganda yung laro namin. Nag-collapse lang kami, naubusan ng stamina nung fourth quarter, yun na lang ang i-improve namin, yung stamina,” said Pacquiao, who also settled for his role on the sidelines and opted not to play as he was still not feeling well coming off his bout.

(We had a good game. We just collapsed, lost our stamina in the fourth. That is what we need to improve, our stamina.) 

KIA reeled to its 8th straight defeat after winning its first outing against fellow expansion team Blackwater. – Rappler.com