GINEBRA continues to plod on despite its manpower problems and none could be prouder than coach Tim Cone.
“I feel it’s really good for our team and for our team confidence that we can play tough down the stretch and win tough games,” said Cone. “I really appreciate that kind of effort we’re playing, especially without having Stanley (Pringe) in the lineup for the past two games.”
The multi-titled Cone spoke after the Kings hurdled tenacious Phoenix Super LPG 125-121 in overtime last Sunday in the PBA Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The win improved Ginebra’s record to 3-0, a mark made more impressive by the fact the unbeaten start was carved despite the absence of Mark Caguioa, Joe Devance, Aljon Mariano and Jared Dillinger, all nursing injuries.
There is also Pringle, who has been sidelined by a knee injury.
“We still don’t know exactly where he is at yet. We’re getting different opinions so we still don’t know how long he’s going to be out, what his timetable is,” related Cone. “(But) not having him in the lineup and still being able to win these last two games is really quite satisfying.”
Making it more rewarding, as far as Cone is concerned, is the fact Ginebra fashioned the come-from-behind win against an equally determined Phoenix squad.
“What a hard-fought game that was, incredibly hard-fought,” Cone gushed after the win that was definitely more hard-earned than the team’s 108-82 beatdown of all-Filipino NorthPort last Friday.
“Tough, tough game. We’re glad we came out on top. But, you know, I was telling our guys before the game that there’s not gonna be any easy games here. You’re gonna have to scratch and claw for every win because every team is good, every team has a good import.
“We got lucky last game because they (NorthPort) had no import. And I’m glad our guys took advantage of that and took care of business.
“But we knew coming in against Phoenix that it’s gonna be a tough one for us, and we knew they’re gonna be a tough match-up, too, because they’re quick, they put a lot of pressure on us and they kind of ran circles around our big men defensively. We just couldn’t keep them under control defensively. So we just feel fortunate we came out on top.”
The Fuel Masters looked poised to win after taking a 112-107 lead going to the last 42 seconds of regulation.
Then Phoenix collapsed, with no less than import Paul Harris kicking himself most in the head.
Harris started putting to naught his Herculean efforts by committing a passing error that led to an Arvin Tolentino layup and made it a 111-113 count. Then, he split his free throws in the final four seconds of regulation that gave Phoenix a 114-111 lead.
LA Tenorio began putting the icing to his heroics by hitting the game-tying three that beat the gameclock and sent the game into OT. The 37-year-old playmaker then boomed in another from deep that proved to be the dagger as it gave the Kings a 125-121 spread, only 9.2 seconds left, and practically sealed the Fuel Masters’ second straight loss in four games.
“We got lucky they missed some free throws,” said Cone. “They missed some free throws, they kept us in the game, gave us some life.”
