Tim Cone: Ginebra still ‘spiritless’

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BIÑAN, Laguna—Short of questioning the effort of his team the last time out, Tim Cone tries to goad Barangay Ginebra out of its poor form when the Gin Kings battle the Meralco Bolts in the 2016 Smart Bro-PBA Philippine Cup at Alonte Sports Center here.

Just two nights after a forgettable second-half effort against defending champion San Miguel Beer, the Kings return to action at 7 p.m. Tuesday as they try to climb from the bottom half of the 12-team standings and play according to pre-season expectations.

Cone, though, was the first one to admit that his squad—just the third team he has handled in his 25-year PBA career—is far from being ready to slug it out with the big boys in the league.

“We’re not at their level, it was very obvious tonight,” Cone said after taking a 100-82 loss to the Beermen flush on the chin on Sunday night at Philsports Arena.

But the most shocking statement was just about to come.

“We have a history and a legend that we have to live up to, and that’s the never-say-die attitude,” he said. “We just didn’t have that tonight. And that is something we have to build and believe in and get the fans to believe that we believe it, too.”

Ginebra will be slugging it out with a side that will, in all likelihood, play with a sense of desperation from now on.

Meralco is off to its worst season start with a 0-4 record, having bowed to Barako Bull, 108-106, also on Sunday night.

The Energy, meanwhile, will try to take the momentum of that win against a Mahindra side that is also looking to assemble its first winning streak of the season. They clash in the 4:15 p.m. contest.

Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar scored 21 points each and combined for 20 rebounds, but the Kings have been struggling with Cone failing to find the necessary support for his twin towers.

Swingman Chris Ellis was the only other man to finish in twin digits for Cone with 11, with the usual heavy scorers like Mark Caguioa, LA Tenorio and Joe Devance combining for just 14 points.