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    Cone admits Ginebra let guard down after Rakocevic ejection

    It happens, says Ginebra coach
    Dec 14, 2022
    Nick Rakocevic Justin Brownlee
    PHOTO: Jerome Ascano

    IN all his years of coaching, Tim Cone admitted a team that plays without an import is the most difficult to beat.

    He was again proven right on Wednesday night.

    The Kings had to fend off an import-less Magnolia that simply refused to go away, 87-84, to take a 1-0 lead in their PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals series at the Philsports Arena.

    Magnolia import Nick Rakocevic was ejected midway through the third period after committing his second technical foul.

    [READ: Ginebra hangs on to beat Magnolia in Game One]

    But instead of folding up, the Hotshots gave the Kings fits and Ginebra didn’t really put the outcome in the bag until Christian Standhardinger grabbed the offensive rebound in the final five seconds off a rare missed free throws by Justin Brownlee.

    Cone could only heave a sigh of relief when everything was over and done with right on his 65th birthday.

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    “Historically, it’s always been tough to beat a team without an import, when an import leaves the game. Either that team gets frustrated over what happened and kind of let down and one team is able to take away, or they lift up,” Cone said.

    “And a team like Magnolia, they’re going to lift up the game. And all of the locals lifted up. And I think the other team sees that team without an import, they kind to have a natural letdown. And I can see it, the first three or four minutes after he (Rakocevic) left the game, our intensity level went down, both on offense and defense,” he added.

    “Again, that’s a natural thing. You don’t want that to happen, but it’s a natural thing to happen.”

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      Although the Hotshots never regained the lead following Rakocevic’s exit, the Kings still couldn’t pull away.

      Ginebra’s biggest lead was seven at 85-78 midway through the final quarter, before the Hotshots uncorked six straight unanswered points to close within 85-84 entering the homestretch.

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      But it proved to be the final stand for Magnolia as turnovers and missed baskets marred their every possession, while Ginebra leaned on a soft jumper from Christian Standhardinger to keep the Hotshots at bay.

      Cone recalled having to play a TNT side earlier in the eliminations without injured import Cameron Clark and almost lost the game.

      “It can actually become more difficult,” said Cone of such situations

      “Hard to believe, but it does.”

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      PHOTO: Jerome Ascano
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