(PBA image)
The margin for error is gone for Titan Ultra—but the belief inside the locker room hasn’t faded.
With their playoff hopes hanging by a thread, the Giant Risers head into Tuesday’s 5:15 p.m. showdown against the Macau Black Knights at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium determined to keep their season alive. Despite a shaky 1-6 record, coach Rensy Bajar insists the fight is far from over.
“May chance pa naman kami,” Bajar said. “Habang may chance at making it, kahit gaano kahirap, we’ll keep on trying.”
That mindset is all Titan has left to cling to. Back-to-back losses have pushed the team to the brink, just a notch above bottom-ranked Macau, which remains winless at 0-7. For both squads, this matchup is less about standings and more about pride—and for Titan, survival.
Mathematically, the road ahead is daunting. The Giant Risers would likely need to sweep their remaining five games just to force a playoff tie, a tall order considering looming clashes with heavyweights Magnolia, Barangay Ginebra, NLEX, and Rain or Shine. But Bajar isn’t looking that far ahead.
For now, all eyes are on Macau.
“They keep on running and marami ring shooters ang Macau. Kahit zero wins sila hindi indication iyon ng kanilang true strength,” Bajar warned. “Laro lang sila nang laro, kaya lagi naming bilin—bawal mag-kumpiyansa.”
It’s a reminder Titan can’t afford to overlook any opponent, especially after failing to sustain momentum in a 92-97 loss to powerhouse TNT last Saturday. The inconsistency has been glaring—a pattern Bajar knows too well.
“Parang roller-coaster,” he admitted. “Mananalo kami, matatalo, tapos mananalo ulit. Consistency talaga ang kulang.”
The absence of veteran leadership has only made things tougher, leaving a young roster still searching for composure and rhythm.
“Nawala yung mga beterano, yung leaders who could have pushed the team to be more consistent,” Bajar explained. “Right now, maturity and consistency ang problema namin.”
Still, as long as there’s a path—no matter how narrow—Titan refuses to back down. Against a desperate Macau side with nothing to lose, the Giant Risers know one thing: this is a must-win, or the season slips away for good.