The Barangay Ginebra Kings intend to move on from their sorry Game Three setback, hoping for a turnaround and progress all the way to a passage to the PBA Governors' Cup Finals.
Bungling a shot at a three-game sweep, the Kings now look forward to closing out their semis dispute with NLEX in four games, realistic the Road Warriors would be more dangerous in a do-or-die setto.
Among the talking points is for LA Tenorio to forget about his endgame lapses leading to their 86-85 heartbreaker Sunday.
"The key for him is just moving on; put it away and move on. That's all we gotta do. We gotta put it away and move on," said Ginebra coach Tim Cone.
Tenorio said he got disoriented as he went for a layup in the dying seconds when they were trailing by three points. Earlier, he had a lazy pass that was intercepted by NLEX import Cameron Clark and turned into a game-winning three-point play off a foul by Justin Brownlee.
"It's so easy to lose especially after a free throw goes in because your mind is already thinking it's two points, then they forget that the free throw goes in," said Cone, shrugging off Tenorio's boo-boos. "LA has won many games for us. He's gonna get a bye on this one, that's not a problem."
A concern is the psychological lift the Road Warriors got on their Game Three escape act.
The Road Warriors are expected to make the most of that crucial break in a bid to extend the series all the way to a knockout setto.
"We would want to prolong the series. Sa amin kasi, the longer the series, the better for us. Their key players are playing heavy minutes, nag-a-average sila ng almost 40 minutes a game. Kami, mas malalim ang rotation, so we can last a longer series. The longer the series is, the better for us," said NLEX coach Yeng Guiao.
Both are hit by injuries with JR Quinahan and Matt Nieto being the latest casualties for the Road Warriors.
The status of Ginebra center/forward Japeth Aguilar, meanwhile, remains day-to-day.
But even with all these health woes, the Kings and the Road Warriors are tipped to figure in another tough outing.
Odds are on Ginebra's side, but the Road Warriors can't be counted out.
Curiously, the Kings erased double-digit deficits in winning Games One and Two. The Road Warriors did the same in taking Game Three.
