BARANGAY Ginebra coach Tim Cone was disappointed that they were unable to take advantage of Bay Area playing without an import during Game Four of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals.
Game Four could have been a turning point for Barangay Ginebra as it played against a Bay Area team that missed Andrew Nicholson due to a sprained ankle. But the Dragons overcame the odds, defeating the Gin Kings, 94-86, to level the series at two games apiece.
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Cone said losing to an opponent without an import is nothing new to the PBA and he credited the Dragons for stepping up with Nicholson out.
“It was disappointing. We had a chance to really gain some traction on the series and put Bay Area on the brink,” said Cone on Saturday on the missed chance of gaining a 3-1 lead in the finals with the Dragons not having Nicholson in the game.
“But you have to tip your cap to Bay Area. Despite missing their import, they came into the game with great spirit and played with a great motor all game long,” said Cone.
The game saw the Dragons locals stepping up led by Kobey Lam, who lit up with 30 points while converting eight threes in the contest.
Cone said Ginebra is moving on from the loss, and he hopes that his team will do better as the series shifts to Game Five on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena with the possibility still looming that Bay Area will still be playing without Nicholson.
“We've seen games like that before, when the import is out and you can catch a team sleeping. We have no excuses. Like we said at the beginning, this is going to be a tough series. Nothing ever comes easy in the finals."