“I’m so dismayed with the way they played last Sunday. We were outplayed, outhustled and outrebounded,” said Romero, team co-owner with businessman Tony Boy Cojuangco. “We are known for our never-say-die attitude but last Sunday, they showed none of it.”

Romero, whose Harbour Centre team established a record of seven straight PBL championships, also noted that while other teams, especially Thailand, are playing with a sense of urgency, the PH Patriots appeared to be losing their intensity.

“We can’t retain our championship if we continue to play this kind of basketball. We are carrying the country’s flag in this tournament, this is not an ordinary tournament because the country’s honor is at stake in this tournament,” Romero said. “They have to play with lots of passion and pride if we have to keep the crown.”

Save for Egay Billones who tallied 23 points, Romero criticized the locals for playing mediocre basketball.

“I don’t want to question their heart but the way they played, it seems they lack the character that I want for a team,” Romero said. “We sorely missed the presence of our original enforcer Jerwin Gaco.”

Gaco, who played a key role in the team’s first championship, is now playing for B-Meg Derby Ace in the PBA.

With the loss, the PH Patriots blew away the opportunity to secure the homecourt advantage in the finals as they dropped to 8-5, two games behind the Slammers, who improved to 10-3.

Even if the Slammers lose their last two games and the Patriots win their remaining two games, there’s no way the defending champions can snare the homecourt edge.

The Slammers have a 2-1 advantage over the PH Patriots in their head-to-head duel this elims.

Jonas Terrado, Manila Bulletin