SAN Mig Super Coffee may be ahead of Barangay Ginebra in their PLDT myDSL-PBA Philippine Cup semifinals series, but coach Tim Cone remains convinced the Mixers always need to be at their best to beat a talented Kings side.
“It’s going to be a tough series. We still don’t feel comfortable being up 2-1,” Cone said after the Mixers’ 97-89 win in Sunday night’s Game 3.
“Our team has to play a really A-plus game to beat this (Ginebra) team. And I feel like they (Gin Kings) can play B-plus or B-minus and probably beat us.”
Now, San Mig tries to further distance itself from Ginebra when it guns for a commanding 3-1 lead when Game Four is played on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Game time is at 8 p.m.
Cone said the Mixers can’t afford to commit the same mistakes they did in Game Two when the Kings got off to a strong first half and led by as much as 16 points, before cruising past for a 93-64 rout.
“We have to be tough. And alertness-wise, energy-wise, all those ‘wise’ to be able to beat this team because the one moment we lack the energy, we’re done,” added Cone, who is looking to steer the franchise back to the Philippine Cup Finals since the 2009-2010 season when it last bagged the All-Filipino crown under former coach Ryan Gregorio.
Meanwhile, Ginebra coach Ato Agustin pointed out the importance of controlling the boards the way they did in Game Two for the Kings to get back into the series.
“Kailangan naming ma-tie ang series. Hindi puwedeng mag 3-1. Eh mag-a-adjust kami especially sa mga pick and rolls nila (Mixers) kasi may mga (defensive) lapses talaga eh,” explained Agustin, whose team held a huge 55-32 rebounding advantage in the second game of their Final Four series.
Agustin rued Ginebra’s two fastbreak points in Game Three revealed its inability to come down on defense against the Mixers.
“Imagine the whole game we only scored two (fastbreak) points in three attempts? Tapos 19 (fastbreak points) sila? So dun pa lang alam mo nang talo talaga eh,” he added.
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