Despite streak, Cone wary of upcoming tough stretch for Kings

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Barangay Ginebra head coach Tim Cone doesn’t want to put too much on his team’s early success in the 2017 PBA Governors’ Cup.

The Gin Kings are currently tied with the Meralco Bolts for the top spot with a 5-1 record, but Cone thinks the real challenge begins on Sunday against fierce rival Star.

“Still too early. We look at our schedule coming up. We got Star, then we got Blackwater, which got beat tonight but has won three of its last four,” Cone said after his squad whipped Phoenix, 105-92, Wednesday night.

Ginebra is among the favorites to win it all at this point of the conference having won five in a row, but its road to defend its title gets rougher from here with Grand-Slam seeking San Miguel and a couple more championship contenders in Rain or Shine and TNT in its line of sight to wrap up its elimination round schedule.

“We’re playing all the top teams out there. So we beat the teams we’re supposed to beat,” he said.

But first things first with the much-awaited Star coming up four days from now.

“Our test comes a little stronger right now to see if what we’re doing can carry over to the good teams, to the really powerful teams in the league starting with Star on Sunday,” said Cone.

The Hotshots are currently third in the standings, just a half-game behind the Kings and Bolts. They have also welcomed back their heart and soul in Marc Pingris.

“It’s going to be an emotional game on Sunday so we just have to be ready for Ping and Star,” said Ginebra forward Japeth Aguilar, who had 19 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks against the Fuel Masters.