SAN Mig coach Tim Cone has fumed over suspicion that their PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series against sister team Barangay Ginebra was 'scripted' to go the distance, saying the claims are both "crazy" and "unfair" to the two ballclubs.
Speaking a day after San Mig booked a place in the finals with a 110-87 victory in Game Seven, Cone said the coaches and players from both camps “worked their butts out" in the seven-game series, enduring the stress and tough grind that goes with it.
They Said It!
“I think it’s just unfair for people to think and say that." San Mig coach Tim Cone
“One thing I could really say about that (scripted ending), if that’s really what happens, then it’s really unfair to all of us (Mixers and Gin Kings) who work our butts out,” Cone said on Thursday at the Sambokojin Restaurant in Eastwood City, Libis, Quezon City.
“We worked really so hard. We worked really, really hard on that Game Seven. I mean, the stress and the hardship and the heartbreak we had to go through in (losing) Game Six, which was really hard to swallow. We really had a hard time after that,” explained the multi-titled PBA mentor.
Cone recalled that in years past, back when a betting game called “PBA ending” was still popular among basketball fans, he was often approached by people and was asked what the final score would be in their next game.
Cone said his response was: “We don’t know about that stuff. The perception is out there, but it’s not something we believe in. It just takes away from the hard work that we gave.
“I think it’s just unfair for people to think and say that.”
PBA commissioner Chito Salud also weighed in, stressing that all 10 PBA teams, their coaches and all the players in the league have a full understanding of their responsibility and commitment to the basketball fans to play the game the way it should be played.
He, too, admitted being aware of the 'scripted' perception among fans.
“I’ve been asked that question several times and I want to answer that our teams understand their sacred responsibility to play the game and give the fans unmediated, pure action game in and game out, which our fans expect and demand,” said Salud.
“That is the norm, and everybody in the PBA understands it.
“Now, for any other team to fool around at that responsibility at the expense of their corporate image will be fool hardy. Let me leave it at that,” he added.
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