But it was also worrying for the multititled coach to watch San Miguel, shorthanded in the most crucial stretches of the game, almost complete a comeback for the ages.
If Game 2 was an indication on the amount of effort Ginebra needs to put in to complete an upset in this best-of-seven series against the deep and talented SMB squad, the Gin Kings know it only gets harder from hereon.
With the series even at one game apiece and both teams weary and banged-up, Game 3 on Wednesday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum promises to be another slugfest.
“I expect two very tired teams to play, and both teams are going to have to reach deep into their benches,” said Cone. “That’s gonna be real key—energy levels.”
The Beermen handily took Game 1 with a 109-82 rout of the Gin Kings, who looked out of sorts in the series opener last Friday at Mall of Asia Arena.
But energized by the huge crowd at Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City, the Gin Kings got off to a blistering start and hung tough in the face of the Beermen’s furious comeback in the second half to hack out a 124-118 overtime victory to tie the series.
Unlike in Game 1 where they looked tentative and sloppy, the Gin Kings changed their approach in Game 2, speeding up the game right from the onset and doubling up on June Mar Fajardo at the post.
More importantly, the Gin Kings refused to crack under pressure when the Beermen started to hit their stride in the second half when Marcio Lassiter got ejected and Fajardo fouled out.