GAME FRIDAY
(Mall of Asia Arena)
7:30 p.m. – TNT vs. Ginebra
THEY meet anew in the Big Dance. This time, Ginebra coach Tim Cone is yearning for a different outcome against TNT.
But even Cone knows it’s easier said than done.
“If anything, we need to play a lot tougher against TNT,” Cone said. “I mean, imagine, we aren’t going to get any 20-point leads against TNT.
“So, we’re going to have to learn how to play it possession by possession just like the way they played Rain or Shine. That’s the way the series is going to go,” he added.
The PBA’s winningest tactician spoke after the Kings ousted the NorthPort Batang Pier with a 126-99 demolition last Friday night in Game 5 of their best-of-7 semifinals series and advanced to the finals of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Ditto with the Tropang Giga, who downed the Elasto Painters 97-92 also in the fifth game and on the same night to score a similar gentleman’s sweep—4-1 in the Last Four of the mid-season extravaganza.
Cone does not see a walk in the park battle against TNT like what his did against Batang Pier, the elims topnotcher.
“Nothing is ever easy in the PBA. It takes a lot of effort. You know, people see a 20-point lead and think it’s easy, but it’s really hard to get a 20-point lead. It’s really hard to blow out teams in this league. Very difficult. They come every once in a while,” Cone said. “We just got into a good rhythm against them and put some back-to-back. That’s such a rare occurrence. You’ve been around the league a long time.
“You don’t see that very often and we’re just going to appreciate the fact that we did it. But, once we do that, we’re just going to leave it behind.”
Game 1 of the race-to-4 showdown is set this Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Chot Reyes-mentored Tropang Giga got the better of the Kings 4-2 in the finals of the last Governors’ Cup in November last year.
In the finals, Cone is convinced they have a better chance with the return of prized standouts Jamie Malonzo and Jeremiah Grey, who were both injured in their last clash, and new addition Troy Rosario.
“When you add Jamie and Maya to your line-up, you should have a stronger line-up. But, you know, they beat us cleanly last conference. Is that enough to overcome them now?” Cone posed.
“We’re going to find that out. But obviously, we feel we have a better chance with those two guys around and slowly but surely.”
