Coach Tim Cone during the PBA Finals press conference between TNT Tropang Giga and Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings. –PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines—Ginebra coach Tim Cone was nothing but blunt in the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals’ press conference on Thursday.
Cone made it clear that anything other than a Gin Kings victory in the best-of-seven series would be “disappointing.”
The multi-titled coach made hay out of a roster with a brand new core for this season’s import-laden conference and he isn’t taking a loss for a result.
“I always believed that if you work so hard, you’ll get to this point. It’s almost like a do-or-die. It’s going to be really disappointing if we don’t win this,” said Cone at The Atrium at Enderun.
PBA Finals schedule: Ginebra Gin Kings vs TNT Tropang Giga
“If we do win this, we’ll be really ecstatic about winning it. That’s where we are now.”
Cone wants the new era of the Gin Kings–led by young stars Stephen Holt and RJ Abarrientos–to end their first conference on a rousing note, and the best way to do that is to reign victorious over their last year’s tormentors, the Tropang Giga.
And the veteran tactician is surely excited for the challenge.
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“I’m sure TNT is ready and I can’t wait to get it on,” said Cone.
Ginebra’s coach also said that there’s no excuse for his squad to turn up in anything but a hundred percent with the amount of rest they’ve had following the semifinals.
Tropang Giga shut down Rain or Shine in five games while the Gin Kings defeated San Miguel Beer in six outings, giving both squads ample time to rest and prepare.
“I think the week off has been good for us and TNT. We’re both fresh,” Cone said. “I think that’s a really good development having this break.”
The last time the Gin Kings squared up with the Tropang Giga in the Finals, TNT dealt them the boot after six games to win its first ever PBA Governors’ Cup title in franchise history just last year.