By REYNALD MAGALLON
Bay Area head coach Brian Goorjian had been through a lot in his colorful coaching career but there’s something he is certainly not and would never want to be one ˗ a cry baby.
The Australian multi-titled mentor reiterated that he is not someone who would whine and sulk in one corner over the officiating after a loss.
“I’ve never once come up here and said a negative thing about the PBA or the officiating ever and never will, it’s a cry baby and I’m not that,” said Goorjian obviously referring to the fans perception of him after declining for an interview following the heartbreaking Game 3 defeat.
Goorjian explained that he opted to bite his tongue following the loss as he was angry at his players for letting the supposed already won game slip away from their hands.
“Nothing to do with referees, nothing to do with the fans and it was (being) pissed after the last game. We let that slip and we are playing a great team that is well coached and I can’t remember being more angry than I was after the last game so I kept my mouth shut to the media, to my team, and collected my thoughts,” he added.
While some of his players aired their grievances about the officiating, Goorjian said he is not the type who dwells on such defeats and he instead immediately looked forward to his adjustments for the next game especially after losing import Andrew Nicholson to an ankle injury late in Game 3.
As a result, Goorjian’s coaching wits, which was usually overshadowed by his dominant import in Nicholson and Myles Powell, were put in the spotlight in Game 4 where the import-less Bay Area stunned Ginebra, 94-86. Goorjian stressed the focus for him has been on the game and the game alone.
“I coached on the sideline, I’ll do anything as coach Cone (Tim) would do to win. I would do anything and everything I possibly can to protect my team and when the game is over I look at the man I competed against and I shake his hand,” said Goorjian.
Kobey Lam picked up the scoring cudgels in Nicholson’s absence dropping 30 points built on eight triples — none bigger than the last two he buried during a personal 8-0 run that gave Bay Area a 12-point cushion which proved to be enough to withstand another late Ginebra rally.
“(I) went into the bunker knowing without Nicholson tonight, we have to bring it. We have to play with a defensive presence and we have to move the ball and I’m proud of my young team playing in a game like this and competing to win. I’m really proud right now,” he said.
