Cone says struggling Ginebra ‘will rise’

Tim Cone. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net

Barangay Ginebra head coach Tim Cone remains unfazed amid the Gin Kings’ early struggles in the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

Ginebra slid to 1-3 following another loss on Sunday night as it dropped to ninth in the standings.

“As a coach I always believe that the cream rises to the top and I know we’re in the cream part of the league, so we will rise,” said Tim Cone after the Kings’ 103-98 double overtime loss to the Phoenix Fuel Masters at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“We got to make it rise, we’re confident that we’re going to come back and win a few games.”

Cone, the league’s winningest coach with 20 titles, has experienced every imaginable situation throughout his coaching career that steering his team out of poor starts is nothing new to him.

Ginebra started the game flat against the Fuel Masters and trailed, 46-30, at the half.

“I’m just upset with how we started the basketball game,” said Cone. “I’m upset about the first half.”

The Gin Kings were able to claw back and force overtime after Japeth Aguilar nailed a 3-pointer with 9.1 seconds left.

Aguilar, however, blew two layups in both overtimes, including an uncontested attempt that would’ve won it for Ginebra in the first OT.

“Japeth just missed it, he just missed the shot,” said Cone. “We still had a chance to go into overtime and win it, we didn’t do that either.”

“There were a lot of things to be upset about but at least the guys didn’t quit, they kept battling and got back into the game.”