TIM Cone is staring at the same scenario that haunted him 36 years ago.
Cone and his Barangay Ginebra squad find themselves stretched into a do-or-die match by San Miguel for the last semifinals berth of the PBA Governors’ Cup.
Within reach of advancing the next round after taking an early 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series, the Kings are suddenly on the cusp of being bundled out as momentum appeared to have shifted on the side of the Beermen, who won the last two outings, including a 108-102 victory in the intensely-fought Game 4 where they overhauled a 17-point, second half deficit only to fall short in the end.
READ: Why do-or-die Game 5 of SMB vs Ginebra playoff is set on Tuesday
Now Cone will hopes history won't repeat itself especially as he's seen how this one played out before.
Back in the 1990 Third Conference finals, Cone was playing in his first title series for Alaska opposite Purefoods.
The Milk Kings also raced to a 2-0 lead and were on the verge of winning a first ever championship in franchise history.
Unfortunately, the turning point came in Game 3 when then Alaska star guard Bong Alvarez went down with a torn Achilles that made him missed the rest of the finals series.
The Hotdogs then swept the next three games to win the franchise’s first ever PBA title.
Ironically, Purefoods coach, the legendary Virgilio ‘Baby’ Dalupan, also did the same trick for the fabled Crispa Redmanizers when they overhauled Toyota’s 2-0 lead in the 1976 All-Philippine championship to win the crown and complete the league’s first ever Grand Slam.
Ginebra curiously, was the last team to pull off the feat back in the 2009-10 Philippine Cup when it rallied past TNT to advance to the semis.
The series took a twist in Game 4 when the Tropang Texters decided to walk out in the first quarter while trailing, 27-20, over what they deemed then was unfair officiating following a flagrant foul called on Ranidel De Ocampo against Ronald Tubid.
The Gin Kings won the game by forfeiture, before clinching Game 5 and eliminate TNT, 113-100.
Will San Miguel be the latest team to repeat the same act?
Game 5 is set Tuesday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
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