Monday, August 04, 2008 Talk back: Coach Siot’s mistake By Edmundo Navarro USJ-R Media Center
IF there’s anyone to blame for Magnolia’s loss to Air 21 in their semifinal series, it’s none other than Coach Siot Tanquincen.
Coach Siot was simply outcoached by his counterpart. He allowed Air 21 to dictate the match-ups.
It was very evident in the series that Air 21 had match-up advantage over Magnolia but coach Siot still failed to make the necessary adjustments.
Air 21’s versatility, thanks to its big men, allows them to play multiple positions and provided the match-up problems of Magnolia’s one-on-one defense. Coach Siot was unable to realize this.
He should have tried switching to zone defense and figured out if it would work to their advantage. If they had played zone, they would have had the luxury of playing small or playing Lordie Tugade and Dondon Hontiveros together in the game. This would have given Magnolia additional scoring options.
In the closing minutes of Game 6 last Friday, coach Siot pulled out Hontiveros and never returned him into the game. The crucial turnovers that did Magnolia in in the homestretch was due to the fact that there was no Hontiveros who could help bring up the ball.
In that game, the Beverage Masters clearly lost steam in the endgame because they had already gotten tired. Having to follow their man and endure some banging off the screen was too much to handle for them.
If they had played zone, they would have surely conserved some energy because they would only be guarding some spots on the floor.
Against the zone, Air 21’s potent halfcourt game including the bread-and-butter one-on-one game of Gary David won’t be as effective.
In the playoffs, it’s all about asserting your game. It’s all about dictating the matchups and making the right adjustments, especially in defense.
The Express were successful in dictating the matchups and in asserting their game. They deserved to play in the finals.
Magnolia, on the other hand, failed to make the right adjustments when they needed it most, and coach Siot’s head deserves to roll!
