Disappointment was etched into just about every line of head coach Sandy Brondello’s face the aftermath of Game Two of the Women’s National Basketball Association Finals. It wasn’t simply that the Liberty lost anew; it was that they found themselves outclassed from opening tip. After having promised to play better following the beatdown they experienced in Game One, they instead got even worse. And by the time the final buzzer mercifully aborted the massacre, their weaknesses on both sides of the court weee laid bare for all to see.
In the post-match presser, Brondello grudgingly noted that the Aces had much to do with the outcome. That said, she refused to acknowledge that the Liberty do not have the tools to stand toe to toe with the defending champions. To be sure, she needs to stay confident moving forward, if for no other reason than because the series isn’t over yet. And having just steered the Liberty to their best regular season in history, she knows full well what they are capable of. The big question, of course, is whether they can make the requisite adjustments to at least keep pace with the overwhelming favorites. It’s one thing to parade the best-laid plans, and quite another to see these through.
Indeed, the Liberty need to not just be their best selves in attempting to be the first hopefuls in WNBA annals to claim the hardware after being down zero to two in the finals. They have to exceed all expectations, relying on their skills sets AND scrapping from the get-go. And in order not to be overwhelmed by the Sisyphean endeavor, they would do well to set their sights on prevailing a moment at a time. They should be after every loose ball, go for every rebound, run through every pick, defend every shot. Forget about the score; there can be no quit in them through every play.
In this regard, Brondello’s right. The Liberty cannot but lead their efforts with pride. They’re much better than what they have shown so far; their collective talent and roster depth make them the Aces’ equals on paper. As with all success stories, however, the eating is where the pudding is validated. And, so far, all they have done is prove the bitterness of their servings. Today, they have the opportunity to set things right. In front of a partisan crowd at Barclays Center, they should be primed to turn their fortunes around. If not, then they need look no farther than their own locker room to find their worst enemies.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and human resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
