TIM Cone didn't outright say that Barangay Ginebra slacked off as it failed to finish Northport in their PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals series Wednesday night.
But at least that's how it looked like.
Up with a commanding 3-0 lead in their best-of-seven duel, the Kings didn’t have the killer instinct to close out the series, allowing the Batang Pier to score a breakthrough 108-103 win at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
READ: Defiant NorthPort holds off Ginebra rally to avoid semis sweep
“It’s kind of a natural reaction being up 3-0, but it’s not something that we find acceptable, even though we know it can happen that way,” said Cone before leaving the Big Dome in a huff.
“It’s not acceptable for us. We should have been better tonight.”
But that doesn’t mean Cone is taking the credit away from the top seeded Batang Pier, playing in their first semifinals stint in the last six seasons.
The Ginebra coach said Northport counterpart Bonnie Tan did a good job of making his team ready in what was a do-or-die encounter for the Batang Pier.
“They came out and play. They fought. They deserved it tonight,” added Cone.
The Batang Pier controlled the tempo of the game and led by as many as 63-52 in the third period.
But the Kings made things interesting as they managed to close within 104-103 with 36 seconds left on a three pointer by Stephen Holt.
Northport wasn’t to be denied though, as import Kadeem Jack and Arvin Tolentino scored four straight points for the finishing touches to the team’s all-important win.
“They came out and fought. They could have let this thing go to as easy and they didn’t. They came out and fought from the very beginning of the game all the way through. We just had a hard time,” said Cone.
“They’ve beaten us in all facets tonight.”
Game 4 is set on Friday also at the Big Dome.
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