Devance says Ginebra lacked passion in Game 1 loss

Barangay Ginebra Kings on their way to the huddle led by coach Tim Cone. PBA IMAGES

It seems Ginebra’s trademark “never say die” attitude wasn’t present when the crowd darlings dropped the first game in the PBA Governors’ Cup finals Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Forward Joe Devance said the Gin Kings forgot to bring the fight to Meralco, which is in its first finals series as a PBA franchise.

“I think it was a lack of experience, I mean not knowing how it takes to win, but Coach Tim [Cone] was pretty upset,” said Devance. “Hopefully we cane learn from this, see the tape and check what we did wrong.”

“Honestly, it was not about the X’s and O’s, it was something about heart, we kinda lacked… I think there was no passion out there for whatever reason.”

Ginebra had a 97-87 cushion late in the fourth but it was Meralco which pumped up the volume and outscored the Gin Kings 15-5 to end the regulation.

Allen Durham then continued Meralco’s spirited advance in the overtime period going on a personal 7-0 run that eventually became the Bolts’ buffer to finish the game and take the 114-109 victory.

Ginebra’s last finals appearance was in 2013 when it lost to Alaska in the Commissioner’s Cup but the group that went into that series was different from this one.

Mark Caguioa, Jayjay Helterbrand, LA Tenorio, and Chris Ellis were the only holdovers from that team that lost to Alaska.

“That lack of experience we didn’t know how to take it, and with him [Cone] being upset, I hope it kinda would kick us in the butt and get us going and fired up.”