Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone –PBA IMAGES
Tim Cone believes Barangay Ginebra will likely be well-equipped in preparing for the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals against NorthPort while he and a few of the team’s key members who’re a part of Gilas Pilipinas compete within the Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers.
“These guys [who will play for Gilas] will likely be playing meaningful games, and I believe that may help once they arrive back and play these [semifinal] games,” the concurrent national coach said after Ginebra eliminated old rival Meralco, 94-87, within the Game 3 decider of the quarterfinals at Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
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“It’s just going to be the energy levels that we’ve to be concerned of. I mean, have they got the energy to come back back and begin an extended series with NorthPort and be on top of their game?” Cone added.
The semifinals of the midseason tournament, all best-of-seven affairs including the TNT-Rain or Shine matchup, will start on Feb. 26 at Smart Araneta Coliseum because the league gives strategy to Gilas’ matches against Chinese-Taipei and Recent Zealand.
But before wrapping things up within the continental qualifiers, Gilas is scheduled to play a series of tune-ups in Doha against Qatar, Lebanon and Egypt, games which Cone said would prepare the national squad for the Fiba Asia Cup in Saudi Arabia in August.
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Brownlee, Scottie Thompson, Jamie Malonzo and Troy Rosario will participate within the Doha trip. Japeth Aguilar is skipping the exhibition matches but is joining Gilas for the Fiba window in Taiwan and Auckland.
As Cone and assistant Richard del Rosario are going to give attention to Gilas, Ginebra’s semifinal buildup will likely be taken care of by other members of the staff led by Olsen Racela, Kirk Collier and Jamil Lipae.
The Gin Kings are priming themselves for a tricky battle with the Batang Pier, who after topping the eliminations at 9-3 beat the Magnolia Hotshots in come-from-behind fashion within the quarterfinals.
Tough test
One in every of NorthPort’s wins got here against Ginebra, pulling off a tricky 119-116 decision on Jan. 8 at Philsports Arena in Pasig City behind import Kadeem Jack and the duo of Joshua Munzon and ex-King Arvin Tolentino.
“NorthPort beat us within the eliminations. They definitely beat [almost] every team within the eliminations [and] we’re not the just one,” Cone said. “Arvin’s playing at an MVP level, Munzon’s playing at an MVP level. Those two guys really carry the load for them.
“Jack appears to be a reasonably good complement for them, and he fills the large man they need. So it’s going to be tough.”
Ginebra survived Meralco in the most recent chapter of their seemingly countless rivalry, bucking a 13-point deficit within the second quarter and taking the lead for good within the third before holding off its foe’s comeback in the ultimate canto.
The foiled attempts compounded the frustrations of the Bolts, who were incensed with the calls that energetic consultant Nenad Vucinic was tossed within the fourth for 2 technicals, the last over an offensive foul that was later reversed.
Brownlee’s 25 points despite an 8-of-22 shooting and his 10 rebounds, seven assists and two blocks were among the many keys to the win. INQ
