"We were all bloody miserable after that performance," he said.
"It was an incredibly sombre changing room and so it should be. We had more than enough overs left to reach that target and we put ourselves in a great position going into the second innings.
"It is definitely a confidence issue at the crease. I have to be critical about the batting because we should have chased them down.
"We let previous defeats get into our heads and Tauranga got to us. It is definitely the hardest defeat to take this season and we must learn from this."
Fellow co-captain Shonit Chandra added: "I was almost crying about the result that's how frustrating it was."
"That opportunity was there for the taking. I give credit because Tauranga were very tactical in their approach. It's confidence I now want our team to focus fully on."
Gibbs said the side must use their disappointment as "ammunition" for next weekend's "do or die" home clash against New World Te Puke, who are just above them in the table.
"Each player needs to individually reflect and use this week wisely," he said.
"Now is not the time to simply drop our heads and sulk. I want everyone very fired up and raring to go. We all have a very strong point to prove."
Meanwhile, Element IMF Cadets leap-frogged Carrus Mount Maunganui at the top of the table after a winning draw against Eves Realty Greerton.
Cadets set the home side a big target posting 251/6, with Northern Knight Jono Boult taking charge with bat scoring 88 runs.
Greerton were then in real trouble at the start of the second innings losing their first three wickets with just 13 runs on the board. Brett Hampton (55) and skipper Shane Wineti (32n/o) did get the hosts back into the game but the light drizzle throughout the innings turned to rain, with the umpire pulling stumps with Greerton at 113/4.
The shock result of the day was courtesy of Mount Maunganui tasting defeat against New World Te Puke at the Te Puke Domain.
The home side batted first setting a target of 122 to chase. Te Puke's Gareth Wallace posted 47 runs, with the Mount's Tony Goodin taking five bowling scalps and Dale Swan grabbing three wickets for just 8 runs.
But a battle of attrition in the second innings saw Mount Maunganui dismissed for 115, to hand the home side a narrow seven run win. Blair McKenzie was the best of the visitors batsmen with 30 runs, with Te Puke's Jonty Grigson, Brody Gilroy and Cam Riley taking two wickets apiece for the victors.
After this weekend's results all is still to play for with only four rounds remaining before the 2016 Baywide Cup title is decided.
BOPCA Baywide premier competition
Baywide Cup results:
Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys College 89 (Sean Wakelin 21) defeated Bayleys Central Indians 79 (Andrew Gibbs 21; S Wakelin 4/22, Craig Baldry 3/5).
Element IMF Cadets 251/6 (Jono Boult 88, Sean Davey 40, Donovan Deeble 37no, Scott Steward 32; Dan Spencer 2/42) drew with Eves Realty Greerton 113/4 after 27 overs when rain stopped play (Brett Hampton 55, Shane Wineti 32no; S Davey 2/11).
New World Te Puke 122 (Gareth Wallace 47; Tony Goodin 5/55, Dale Swan 3/8) defeated Carrus Mount Maunganui 115 (B McKenzie 30).
Points table (provisional): Element IMF Cadets 112, Carrus Mount Maunganui 99, Eves Realty Greerton 79, Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys College 79, New World Te Puke 67, Bayleys Central Indians 14.
