TIM Cone lauded San Miguel Beer for pulling off a 108-102 comeback in Game 4 on Friday night that sent its PBA Governors Cup quarterfinal playoff with Barangay Ginebra to a do-or-die fifth game.
But at the same time, the veteran coach expressed disappointment over how game officials handled the homestretch, feeling some calls stymied the Kings’ endgame comeback at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Cone lamented how officiating derailed the Kings from catching up with the Beermen in the end, especially that crucial foul called on Scottie Thompson on import George King in the final 20 seconds and Ginebra just down, 105-102.
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The San Miguel reinforcement sank both free throws to hike the lead back to five.
“In a situation down the stretch like that, referees got to be better,” said Cone, alluding to that controversial foul called on Thompson.
Ginebra claimed King travelled on that particular play, but the referees said Thompson fouled the San Miguel import from behind and the contact resulted in the SMB import committing the violation.
“We worked out butts to get back into the game. We worked really hard, it was a really a hard comeback because we’re also disappointed. It was really hard to turn that game back around. And then when we do, we get killed in that call,” added Cone.
But Cone won’t deny San Miguel its flowers especially after climbing back from a huge 17-point deficit behind a mind-boggling 22-0 run in the third period.
“They’re a great team. We knew they’re gonna come back and they came back a little bit harder than we thought they would,” said the Ginebra coach.
“Bottom line is, tied up 2-2. We move forward and get ready for Game 5.”
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