TIM Cone was quick to play down Barangay Ginebra’s opening-day loss to Magnolia in his former player LA Tenorio's coaching debut for the Hotshots.
Cone admitted the Hotshots came much prepared than the Kings in their 80-73 win in the PBA Philippine Cup opener. But he stressed the media and fans made a big deal of his first head-to-head coaching matchup with Tenorio than it really was.
READ Magnolia gives LA Tenorio a rousing debut at expense of Ginebra
“I certainly didn’t like the way we played. Too many turnovers, no multiple effort on defense, didn’t execute tonight, didn’t play a very good game at all,” said the Ginebra coach.
“I’m happy for LA, I’m sad for myself,” said Cone. “You guys are making a bigger deal out of it than either he or I. We’re friends. It’s the same thing when I played against Chot Reyes, Jeff Cariaso, or John Cardel, who else are out there? Willy Wilson. They’re all my ex-players and coaches. Luigi Trillo [too]. So it’s the same.
“It’s much bigger for LA than it was for me tonight. Just put it that way. It was his first game. He’s going to remember it. I’m going to forget this one really quick.”
Cone repeated it was more of Ginebra playing a bad game and Magnolia the better prepared team.
“They (Hotshots) looked sharper and looked better,” he said of Magnolia.
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