AND the mind game has began.
Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone thought Bay Area counterpart Brian Goorjian did a good job of highlighting through the media the calls his team failed to get in the Dragons’ 96-81 loss in Game 1.
Cone saw it coming and knew the Kings were up for a tough time getting the calls this time in a 99-82 loss in Game 2 on Wednesday night.
[READ: Bay Area hits back with a vengeance in Game Two]
Tit for tat.
“Their coach, coach Brian did a good job of selling to the press, selling to you guys, and everybody else about the calls from the last game,” said Cone before heading to the exit of the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Did a great job of selling it.”
Barangay Ginebra was called for more fouls, 21-13. But the biggest difference was in free throws awarded as the Kings just went to the foul line five times and made three of their shots, whereas the Dragons were given 21 free throws and made 18.
“We knew we were not getting the calls tonight like we’re not a busy team tonight,” said the 65-year-old Cone.
In Game 1, both teams were just about even in fouls called at 18-17 in favor of the Dragons, but Ginebra trooped to the line more often and made 13-of-19 shots compared to the Dragons’ 8-of-16.
But Goorjian noted that was part of the adjustments the Dragons made following the loss in the series opener.
“Tonight we defended without fouling, we made the adjustments according to the PBA rules of playing D without fouling and to move forward, we’ve got to stay on that page,” he said.
Cone though, is not complaining just like Goorjian was after the Game 1 loss.
“It’s tough to beat a good team three times in a row which is what we’re trying to do,” Cone said.
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