BARANGAY Ginebra on Sunday night takes on its rival Magnolia, a team that has been struggling to start the PBA 50th Season Governors’ Cup.
Their upcoming match-up at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum will be the first of at least two ‘Manila Clasico’ games this conference with the Governors’ Cup elimination round being a double-round robin format tournament.
Entering the match-up, however, Magnolia is on a shaky start with a 1-3 win-loss record including a 98-97 defeat against Rain or Shine just last Friday after Adrian Nocum made a game-winning lay-up.
READ: LA sees character test for Magnolia as Ginebra awaits on Sunday
But coach Tim Cone said Magnolia’s struggles early is not a reflection of what the team truly is.
In fact, Cone said his team isn’t exactly playing better as well at this point of the conference.
The Gin Kings have a 2-2 win-loss record after an 84-75 win over Meralco also last Friday, and had only one day to prepare for the Magnolia match-up.
“Not struggling as much as we are,” Cone said, when asked about Magnolia’s struggles.
“These early results in conferences, I think we make too big of a deal of it,” Cone added. “I remember one time when Talk ‘N Text got beat by like 15 points in the first game and 19 points in the second game, and everybody was like, ‘nothing.’ And then they go on a seven-game winning streak going to the finals and sweep the finals.
“I remember our grand slam year with Alaska. We came out and lost our first three games, and then we win our next 11 straight.
“Early results are early results. You always want to get ahead. You always want to be on top of the standings. But you don’t panic when you don’t and I don’t think Magnolia is going to panic,” Cone said.
Despite their win-loss record, Cone said Magnolia head coach LA Tenorio, his former player at Barangay Ginebra, is actually doing well with his squad.
“I know LA. I know what kind of personality he has. He is not a guy who panics. They are going to figure it out. And hopefully, they figure it out after we play them on Sunday. They have a good team and he is a good coach, and they are going to figure it out before long. And when they do, watch out. They can go on a tough run,” said Cone.
Cone said the game is crucial as both teams are in a difficult Group B that also includes Phoenix Super LPG, Rain or Shine, and Blackwater.
“This is a tough group. It’s hard to sustain wins in this group. We are playing Friday and Sunday, and then out again, we’ve got to play Friday and Sunday again. It’s tough to play these back-to-backs like this. We don’t have any control on the schedule so whatever they throw at us, that’s on us,” Cone said.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
