The Macau Giant Pandas have started the PBA Governors’ Cup with four straight defeats. Even so, point guard Damian Chong Qui believes that first win is right around the corner.
On Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Macau fell to 0-4 after its last-ditch rally against the TNT Tropang 5G fell short. TNT held a commanding 101-83 lead with 4:51 remaining in the final period, but Chong Qui and import De’Vondre Perry sparked a late rally with timely baskets and key defensive stops. Despite their comeback effort, the Giant Pandas ran out of time and fell just short of forcing overtime, ultimately suffering a 106-103 defeat.
Chong Qui Believes a Win Is Coming
After the game, Chong Qui rued his team’s turnovers but was generally positive in his assessment of the game, even with the loss.
“I thought we fought,” Chong Qui told reporters. “Maybe a couple of turnovers here and there, but I think we checked the box score. It was a pretty even game, maybe one or two plays.”
Chong Qui was a big reason Macau made a game out of a blowout. Coming off the bench, the 27-year-old guard finished with 24 points, 3 rebounds, 8 assists, and 1 steal in 34 minutes of action. And, moving forward, expect the diminutive guard to be even more confident as the Giant Pandas continue to get better.
“I thought we competed for the whole game for once, and we’re getting better,” Chong Qui added. “I think we were one or two plays from getting a win.”
Giant Pandas Figuring Things Out?
Among Macau’s four losses in the Governors’ Cup, this was the only one that wasn’t decided by a blowout.
The Giant Pandas opened the conference with a 114-75 loss to the NLEX Road Warriors, followed by a 123-109 defeat to the San Miguel Beermen and a 149-124 setback against the Converge FiberXers.
Then, on Sunday, Macau gave TNT a scare, albeit late in the fourth quarter. So, Chong Qui might be right in his assessment that the team is heading in the right direction. But, while that may be the case, the Giant Pandas will need to turn that progress into results sooner rather than later if they want to make the playoffs.
Macau can start turning things around on Saturday, July 25, when it faces the Titan Ultra Giant Risers, who are also winless as of press time.
