Cone: We’re 6 or 7 in scale of 10 now

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GINEBRA is still far from the ideal form that coach Tim Cone wants but is still good enough to get its title-retention bid in the PBA Governors Cup off to a good start.

“In terms of what we’ve seen, we’re liking it. But I don’t think we’re playing at a higher level by any means yet,” Cone said moments after the Kings rallied past Alaska for an 80-77 win last Sunday at the Ynares Sports Arena.

“We hope to get better as the conference goes along,” added Cone. “I’d say we’re maybe six or seven in a scale of 10 at this point. We got a lot of room to grow and get better.”

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That should be bad news for the rest of the competition eyeing to deny Ginebra a fourth title in five editions of the import-laced tournament last held in 2019.

Alaska painfully found out how tough that task would be, failing to hold on to a seven-point lead in the last six minutes of the fourth quarter, simply wilting in the face of Ginebra’s pressure.

Justin Brownlee capped his 28-point, 10-rebound return to the tournament by tying the game at 73-all with a floater before stealing the ball from Abu Tratter that led to Stanley Pringle’s go-ahead basket.

The Kings’ resident import then iced the game with his third steal of the game off Jeron Teng that led to charities by LA Tenorio that practically iced the game 77-73, only 13 ticks left.

Ginebra’s next test will be against NorthPort on Friday and Cone admitted the intervening time would be used to forge his team into a more cohesive unit.

“But I already like what we’re seeing,” said Cone. “Like I keep telling the guys: ‘We’re showing flashes of brilliance, but we’re not putting it all together yet.’”

Cone admitted it’s always tough to play an opener and heaped praises on his original PBA team for a splendid game, even though it absorbed its first loss in three games.

“Alaska, they’ve played their third game in five days. But it kind of balances out because they might be a little heavy-legged,” noted Cone.

“But they’re used to the rims, they’ve had a couple of games under their belt, they got a rhythm, they’re coming off wins. They’re playing above their talent and I think that’s probably the best compliment I can give a coach… and Alaska is certainly playing above their talent. And they were very good defensively against us,” added Cone. “So we didn’t have our rhythm as much as we wanted.”

Brownlee and Christian Standhardinger, acquired before the last Philippine Cup, having little or no trouble playing together also pleased Cone.

“Justin’s only been here for eight or nine days so we haven’t had a lot of time with him. But I thought he played some very good music with Christian today,” offered Cone.

“I thought Christian was such a huge factor in terms of guarding (Alaska import Olu) Ashaolu. He took on the challenge all game long. It was a very physical battle. Those guys were going at it. But that’s Christian. He won’t back down from anybody and that’s what he brings to the team,” Cone also said.

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