Tim Cone. Photo by Nuki Sabio, PBA.
MANILA, Philippines—B-Meg coach Tim Cone walked into the press room Sunday night looking like he didn’t know what hit him and his Llamados.
The firebrand mentor blew his top in Game 1 of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals with Rain or Shine, and was at a loss for words following the unexpected 91-80 rout from the Elasto Painters.
“The physicality was great out there and our guys are being frustrated,” Cone eventually said. Just three days ago, Cone said that “only the tough guys will play” after downing Barangay Ginebra in a knockout match to advance to the best-of-seven title series.
“Some of our guys are being hit on the testicles and I tried telling the refs but it fell on deaf ears,” he said. “I made a mistake (of throwing a chair into the playing court) and I got tired of pleading.
“It’s one thing to be strong and physical and it’s another thing if you give an elbow,” Cone said before giving a warning. “I’m trying hard to keep (my players’) tempers in check, but I can only do so much. The refs have to help us out.”
Cone added that he was going to call the attention of commissioner Chito Salud, whose office responded yesterday by issuing a statement that said that it saw nothing wrong with the way play was called in Game 1.
“The level of physical contact that has been allowed and disallowed remains within the parameters set by the league,” Salud said in a text message to PBA scribes.