JOLTED to its senses the last time out, Ginebra vented its wrath on Terrafirma last Wednesday night.
Kings coach Tim Cone was simply relieved his wards got the job done on the heels of a 90-93 loss to foreign guest team Eastern last Sunday even without key players in big man Japeth Aguilar (groin) and wingman Stephen Holt (knee).
“Let me clarify, I don’t think there’s anything like a good loss but if there’s a good loss, we probably had one against Eastern,” Cone said. “But I’m not a big fan of good losses. It was a good win for us because we are missing two starters, two really important starters that have been contributing big time for us in Japeth and Stephen.
“There was a little bit of anxiety coming into this basketball game, wondering if we can match up,” he added.
Cone spoke after Ginebra turned back the Dyip 114-98 to get back on track in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
The win allowed the Kings to rise to 3-1 and gain the needed momentum before they take on the Magnolia Hotshots on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, next week at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ginebra will also battle Converge tomorrow, Saturday, in an out-of-town tiff at the Batangas City Coliseum.
Resident import Justin Brownlee dazzled with 49 points, on top of 12 rebounds, and six assists for the Kings while RJ Abarrientos chimed in 18 markers, two boards, and six dimes.
Troy Rosario also had 17 and five for Ginebra.
What gnaws at Cone is the health status of Aguilar and Holt heading into their final two outings for the year.
“At this point, both of them are day-to-day, maybe even week-to-week. We’re not so sure, because it has been too quick since they have been injured,” he said. “Stephen has a knee injury. It looks like a hyperextension or maybe a bone bruise because again, we’re not 100 percent sure as these are preliminary observations. Japeth has a groin pull.
“We don’t know the severity yet, but he’s scheduled for an MRI and we’ll take a look at that when we can.”
Meanwhile, Rain or Shine big man Beau Belga has joined an elite company after becoming the league’s 98th member of the 5000-point club.
The burly center was presented the award at halftime of the Elasto Painters’ 102-100 decision over the Hotshots also last Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
While Aguilar and Holt are nursing injuries, Belga, now in his 16th year in the pro league, has shown what cagers should emulate—taking good care of one’s body.
