IT was one rare Barangay Ginebra loss where Tim Cone didn't lose his cool.
Cone looked calm as he stuck to the positives after a 82-85 loss to San Miguel in their PBA 50th Season Commissioner’s Cup showdown on Easter Sunday that saw the Gin Kings waste a 15-point lead.
“I thought we did a good job in many areas of the game, we did what we wanted to do, and sometimes you do everything you’re supposed to do, and you’ll come out short against a team like this,” said Cone later.
READ Austria admits Justin Patton asked to take on Brownlee on defense
“I thought we had a good game, I thought we played well. I didn’t think we shot the ball particularly well, but we were also getting good shots. Credit to [the Beermen] for their defensive side.”
The Kings actually shot better from the field at 38 percent, while the Beermen finished at a woeful 35.2 percent. But that was negated by Ginebra’s 60 percent shooting from the foul line, from where San Miguel shot a high 90 percent.
Ginebra import Justin Brownlee finished with a game-high 31 points, but missed three crucial free throws in the endgame.
San Miguel broke the game’s final deadlock on a Don Trollano three-pointer from the deep right corner for the game’s marginal score. Ginebra later missed two potential game-tying baskets by Brownlee and Scottie Thompson.
“We came up with one big shot, missed some free throws down the stretch, and they hit the big shot down the stretch,” said Cone. “But overall, I’m pleased with the way we played, and if we keep playing like this we’re going to compete for the championship.”
Cone said there’s no reason for the Kings to be disappointed.
“We’re not going to hang our heads too low right now. I thought we played well, just not well enough. But we can play better,” he added.
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.
