MANILA, Philippines – Star Hotshots veteran PJ Simon won't deny that they are experiencing some frustration as they slog through a difficult conference that has seen the team mired at the bottom of the league standings.

A 103-116 loss to sister team Ginebra in the Manila Clasico on Sunday has put Star's record at 1-6, good for only 11th place in the 12-team league.

Just two years after winning a Grand Slam, the Hotshots face a difficult road to make the playoffs of the 2016 PBA Governors' Cup.

READ: Ginebra drops Star to a new low with Manila Clasico blowout

"'Di naman mawawala 'yung frustration, kasi sanay tayo na nasa gitna o nasa top," admitted Simon, who scored 22 points in the loss to Ginebra. "Medyo may frustration, pero habang 'di pa naman tapos, walang namang gi-give up."

"Kita naman na walang bumibitaw, hanggang dulo," he pointed out. "Looking forward kami na makakuha kami ng streak bago matapos 'yung conference na ito."

Star only has four games left in its schedule, and will need to win all of them in order to boost its hopes of making the playoffs.

"Nasa situation kami na our backs are against the wall," Simon acknowledged.

However, a veteran team like Star will not just give up, he stressed.

"Laban lang, kasi kung gi-give up kami ngayon, pagbabayaran namin in the end," he pointed out. "May nakikita pa naman kaming slight chance, at 'yung mga teammates ko, 'di pa naman gumi-give up, at umaasa pa kami na makakapasok pa kami sa quarters."

In the meantime, the Hotshots will have to rue a blown opportunity to claim their second win of the conference. They had gotten off to a spectacular start against the Gin Kings, and even led by 17 points in the second half, only to fade away down the stretch.

After racing to a 33-21 lead at the end of the first quarter, the Hotshots were outscored 95-70 the rest of the way.

"Obviously, napaka-ganda ng defense namin ng first half," said Simon. "Noong second half, medyo na-let down kami ng kaunti sa defense."

It did not help that majority of the 16,460 fans who were there at the Araneta Coliseum on Sunday night were vociferously pro-Ginebra.

"Yun talaga ang sixth man nila," Simon said. "Ever since nandito pa si Coach Tim (Cone), napapansin niya rin na sobrang laking tulong ng crowd. The best way na i-tame 'yung crowd is huwag sila palamangin, at bigyan ng magagandang plays dahil nabu-boost 'yung players nila."

The Hotshots were able to do just that in the first period, but could not maintain their strong start. They gave up a buzzer-beating lay-up to Jervy Cruz at the end of the third quarter, and were then thoroughly outplayed in the final frame as Ginebra rode the momentum all the way to victory.

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