Tim Cone at the Ginebra Gin Kings’ bench in the PBA Governors’ Cup. –PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines—Ginebra braces for sister team San Miguel Beer on Sunday in Group B of the PBA Governors’ Cup with only one result in mind: repeat.
Following the Gin Kings’ trouncing of Rain or Shine at Araneta Coliseum on Friday, coach Tim Cone acknowledged the roadblock ahead of them.
“With San Miguel, we escaped with a win the last time we played them but with the last couple teams we played [before them], they beat us so we had something to come in and motivate us then,” said Cone following their 124-102 victory over coach Yeng Guiao and company.
READ: PBA: Ginebra to ‘reconstruct’ rotation with Isaac Go injured
“We’re coming into that game hoping we can repeat.”
In their first meeting in Group B, Ginebra barely escaped the Beermen, 108-102.
It didn’t come easy at all for the Gin Kings, who needed import Justin Brownlee to explode for 51 big points in that dub.
READ: PBA: Brownlee scores career-best 51, Ginebra clips San Miguel
San Miguel gave Ginebra all sorts of trouble then with Jordan Adams scoring 23 and June Mar Fajardo, being June Mar Fajardo, dropped a double-double of 17 points and 17 rebounds.
Cone expects the same level of difficulty and even more in their Group B rematch.
“Adams is back, he gave us all kinds of fits in the last game, June Mar is June Mar and Marcio’s (Lassiter) looking for that three-point record.”
“We always have tremendous battles with San Miguel. We always kind of come out on the short end, we don’t beat them as much as they beat us but we’re capable.”
The sister teams collide in Sunday’s nightcap at the Big Dome.