MANILA – Rain or Shine veteran Beau Belga was clearly disappointed with their team's defensive effort on Sunday after the Elasto Painters gave up a career-high 44 points to Terrence Romeo in their crucial Philippine Cup game against GlobalPort.

The Elasto Painters threw a variety of defenders at Romeo, including Gabe Norwood, but the GlobalPort guard simply torched them. Romeo converted 16 of his 30 attempts, including eight three-pointers, to net his career-best scoring performance.

To make matters worse for Rain or Shine, they also failed to stop Romeo's "Slash Brother," Stanley Pringle, who had 28 points on 10-of-18 shooting.

"Defense ang problema namin," Belga said bluntly, after they wound up with a 99-117 loss. "Two guys, 44 tapos 28?"

Belga hinted that in the early days of his career, he would not have allowed an opponent to register such a high-scoring output.

• READ: Romeo's 44 points tows Globalport into PBA playoffs

"Hindi ko ina-ano, ha, pero noong bago-bago ako sa liga, pagka-ganyang klase at nakaka-bente ka na, iba na," he said. "Hindi ka basta-basta makaka-score. Kahit mag-fine ako, wala akong pakialam."

"Pero hindi na pwede 'yun ngayon eh," he quickly added. "So pagalingan na lang dumepensa."

Belga pointed out that offense has never been Rain or Shine's issue, and indeed, they made 41% of their shots against the Batang Pier. On defense, however, they need to regain the mentality that helped them reach the semifinals of nine consecutive conferences.

"Kung kailangang higpitan ang depensa… 'yun naman ang solusyon eh," he said.

"Sa first half, tabla kasi nade-depensahan namin 'yung opensa nila," he added, referring to the 50-50 deadlock at halftime. "Pero noong medyo na-ano kami, doon na lang umalagwa eh."

"And s'yempre, nakaka-frustrate kapag nakaka-shoot, pero kasama sa laro 'yun. Frustration. Ang kailangan mo lang, bumawi," he said.

Rain or Shine has one last chance to secure a quarterfinals berth on Wednesday, when they play the Alaska Aces.

"We had two chances, we lose one, may chance pa sa Wednesday," said Belga. The burly big man stressed the need for them to beat Alaska, otherwise, they will have to play Blackwater in a knockout game for the eighth seed, and then advance to play top-seeded San Miguel in another knockout game.

"Knockout lahat. Pag nagkamali ka, patay ka na, pahinga ka na, bawi ka na lang sa next conference, and ayaw ko yun," he stressed. "Ayaw kong umabot sa dalawang conference na magkasunod na na-out kami."

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