ANDRE Caracut sees the need for Rain or Shine to do a better job at rebounding to have a chance at beating TNT and win their PBA Philippine Cup semifinals series.
The Elasto Painters' starting point guard said the Tropang 5G's dominance off the board was the big difference in the team's 98-91 loss in Games 1 of the best-of-seven duel.
TNT had a huge 59-44 advantage in rebounding against Rain or Shine, with Poy Erram, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, and Calvin Oftana accounting for 10 each.
"Talo kami sa rebounds kaya hindi kami makatakbo," said Caracut of Rain or Shine's transition plays which have been its bread and butter.
The Elasto Painters were held to just seven fastbreak points, the same output as the Tropang 5G.
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"Yun ang kailangan namin na mag-effort pa," he stressed. "Kailangan namin i-addres talaga yung mga kulang namin. Adjustment para sa Friday (Game 2)."
Caracut, who finished with a team-high 16 points spiked by three triples, singled out the dominance in the paint of both Erram and Ganuelas-Rosser.
Aside from rebounding, the TNT duo also combined for 29 points, with Erram also hitting a crucial three-point shot in the stretch run.
"Mostly si Brandon and si Poy, yung percentage nila sa paint mataas. Kaya siguro lagay-lagay na lang sila (sa basket)," said Caracut.
And of course, not to be forgotten was Roger Pogoy's hot shooting night.
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The latest member of the league's 5,000-point club erupted for 28 points including 13 in the fourth quarter which he capped with a killer four-point shot.
"Yung timing ng tira ni RR, yung four points na naipasok niya, mabigat. Kaya medyo lumayo sila nung huli," according to Caracut. (RG)
