BARANGAY Ginebra braces for a matchup as tough as the one it just overcame, with a semifinal duel with TNT looming in the PBA 50th Season Governors’ Cup.
The Gin Kings are fresh off topping San Miguel in Game 5, avoiding a collapse when they were already up 2-0 only for the Beermen to even the series.
With that, Ginebra moves on to yet another meeting with the Tropang 5G, who welcomed back Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and proceeded to breeze through the quarterfinals with a sweep of Magnolia.
“Obviously, we know how good he is,” said Gin Kings coach Tim Cone of Hollis-Jefferson. “We know how great the team is and we know how well they are playing. They swept Magnolia right off the floor and three easy wins.”
“We couldn’t have picked a tougher opponent. We had San Miguel, and we got to go through Talk ‘N Text. We are going to bring that same fire into the Talk ‘N Text series and see what we can do.”
Gilas window first
Before the series gets going, though, Cone will first shift his focus to Gilas Pilipinas, with the national team seeing action in the November window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian qualifiers.
Scottie Thompson will likewise be with Gilas before Ginebra takes on TNT on December 4.
“I’m not going to be focused too much on it right now because I’ve got Gilas duties coming up first. All the other teams, they are going to have an opportunity to rest and prepare. We are not going to have that opportunity with Ginebra," said Cone.
"I’ll be gone, (assistant coach) Richard [Del Rosario] will be gone, a lot of our staff will be gone, Scottie will be gone.”
Cone hopes the busy schedule for Gin Kings players and coaches will not become a disadvantage, as they face a Tropang 5G side which finished off its quarterfinal series on Oct. 31.
“It’s going to be a tough window for us. Right now, I got to change my hat from PBA to Gilas, and I’m going to leave that (preparation) with coach Olsen [Racela] and coach Johnny [Abarrientos], and they are the ones that is going to help prepare the team at this point,” he said.
“That’s the sacrifice that we make, that Ginebra, as an organization, makes for Gilas. It’s a tough one. I certainly would love to have a break, as I know (Scottie) would love to have a break. But we are also proud and excited to coach in this really important window.”
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