LIKE TNT tactician Chot Reyes who has heaped praises on Converge counterpart Aldin Ayo, Ginebra coach Tim Cone is also convinced the FiberXers strategist has what it takes.
“I’ve been around in the league for 31 years, so I’ve played against a lot of great coaches,” Cone said. “I coach against great coaches every night and Aldin (Ayo) is one of those great coaches.
“We’re just gonna go out there and there’s very little to do between him and I. The players on the court decide the game so it’s not really a focus of mine but they’re playing well,” he added.
Cone is hoping his charges would not suffer the same fate as the Tropang Giga who were dismantled recently by Converge.
The Kings seek to boost their bid for the No. 2 slot in the quarterfinals when they square off with the FiberXers today in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
The crucial tiff is set at 5:45 p.m. after Meralco and NLEX clash for survival in the curtain-raiser at 3 o’clock.
Ginebra will go into the game on a high, having scored a 122-105 ripping of NorthPort three nights ago that hiked its mark to 8-3, within a win of forging a tie with Magnolia.
The likes of import Justin Brownlee, reigning MVP Scottie Thompson, LA Tenorio, Japeth Aguilar, Christian Standhardinger, Jamie Malonzo, Stanley Pringle, and Jeremiah Gray will be counted upon by the Kings to deliver.
Converge is raring to redeem itself from a 97-112 loss to the Batang Pier 10 days ago that snapped the FiberXers’ seven-game winning streak.
With an 8-3 card, Converge will bank on reinforcement Quincy Miller, Aljun Melecio, Maverick Ahanmisi, Jeron Teng, RK Ilagan, and Justin Arana.
Ayo benched Miller the last time out after the import came to practice late. Miller, according to Ayo, overslept after celebrating his 30th birthday.
“Importante lang manalo muna kami, then saka na tingnan kung ano ang mangyayari. As I’ve said, that was an extra special win against a powerhouse team like Ginebra and we cannot let that go to waste,” coach Frankie Lim said after the Road Warriors stunned Ginebra 120-117 in overtime last Friday. “Kailangan magandang follow-up so kailangan manalo uli sa Meralco.”
NLEX will lean on reinforcement Earl Clark, Don Trollano, Kevin Alas, Kris Rosales, and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser in its attempt to improve its 4-7 slate.
Holding a 4-6 record, the Bolts absorbed a 96-108 setback at the hands of the Hotshots three days ago.
Import KJ McDaniels, Allein Maliksi, Bong Quinto, Chris Banchero, and Aaron Black will carry the fight for Meralco.
