Cone: Ginebra will be back stronger

Baranger Ginebra Kings and Tim Cone. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

With his first conference in Ginebra ending in a quarterfinals exit, coach Tim Cone vowed the league’s crowd darlings will come back stronger.

In the aftermath of the Gin Kings’ 84-83 overtime loss against GlobalPort in the second phase of the 2016 Smart Bro PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals, the two-time Grand Slam-winning coach took to Twitter his thoughts about the conference.

“Players played their hearts out, fans screamed their hearts out. Despite the loss, that makes it a great night. We’ll be back stronger. #NSD”

READ: Tenorio, Slaughter rue lapses that led to costly loss

It was a sorry loss for Ginebra as it failed to advance to the semifinals after a hardfought duel against the Batang Pier in extra period.

After Cone signed the scoresheet giving the team an option to put the game under protest, no official complaint reached the office of the PBA Commissioner Monday noon.

Though still in pain, LA Tenorio had accepted the tough defeat. “It’s part of the game. We look forward to the next conference.”

READ: GlobalPort advances to semis, ousts Ginebra

Greg Slaughter also put the loss behind him, and is excited for the future under the tutelage of Cone.

“It always sucks to lose, but we got to look at the big picture. I think we’re here for the long term with coach Tim.”