Kings nail semis berth
LA Tenorio leads Ginebra. PBA IMAGES
Usually, coaches want a series to be over and done with in the shortest time possible.
Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone, though, is actually looking forward to Barangay Ginebra’s Final Four series with sister team Star going the distance.
The Gin Kings, with LA Tenorio coming up big in the second half, shot down Alaska for the second straight game, 108-97, before an animated gallery at Smart Araneta Coliseum to give Ginebra the last semifinal slot and seal a box office dream of a matchup with the Hotshots.
“We’re just glad to be there (in the semifinals against Star) at this point,” Cone said after his Kings broke away in the third period and defeated the Aces handily. “I told the players that this is not our championship and I am looking forward to seven games [against the Hotshots].”
“The last time we did it, I was on the other side (with Purefoods) and we broke all sorts of [attendance] records,” Cone said about the rivalry dubbed “Manila Clasico.” “I’m really looking forward to it.”
Ginebra will go into this series trying to figure out how to shut down Star, which Cone noted is the best offensive team in the league right now.
“We have to find a way to slow them down,” he said, pointing out that the Hotshots have blown their past six opponents by close to 20 points. “They (Hotshots) are playing great basketball. It’s just awesome to watch them play.”
Tenorio scored all but one of his team-high 31 points in the final three periods as Ginebra shook off a slow start and came up with a rip-roaring finish to become the 12th team in history to overturn a twice-to-win disadvantage.
“We certainly picked the right time to play our best game of the season,” Cone said after getting 20 points from Aljon Mariano and 15 points from rookie Kevin Ferrer.
Calvin Abueva had 29 points to pace Alaska, which also got 23 from Vic Manuel. Abueva also had 13 rebounds but the Aces just couldn’t knock down the shots when they needed to.
Meanwhile, San Miguel Beer opens its semifinal series against Talk ‘N Text today at 7 p.m. at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
