Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings coach TIm Cone during Game 5 of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals against TNT Tropang Giga. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—With momentum on Ginebra’s side after trying the series, coach Tim Cone knows what went wrong for his the Gin Kings in Game 5 of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals.
After two rousing victories, the Gin Kings saw themselves on the wrong end of a lopsided loss as Tropang Giga took a commanding 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven affair.
“It doesn’t even matter that we lost by thirty points, the bottom line is we lost,” said a distraught Cone after their 99-72 loss at Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday.
READ: PBA Finals: ‘No excuses’ for Ginebra after crushing Game 5 loss
“Right now, I know our fans feel bad about it. Everybody in our team feels bad about it but the bottom line is, it’s just one game in the series. It could’ve happened in Games 1, 2 or 3.”
Cone admitted that his squad got too comfortable after tying the series at 2-2 and gave credit to TNT for finding a way to end the Gin King’s run.
“They came out and played and you just have to tip your cap to the other team. They were ready, hungry and we were a little too satisfied after our two wins,” said Cone.
TNT’s famed defense was on full display for Game 5 as the Tropang Giga limited the Gin Kings to a lowly 32 percent shooting clip from the field as a team.
However, it was Justin Brownlee who bore the brunt of the Tropang Giga’s hard-nosed defense as he tallied a series-low eight points.
READ: PBA Finals: TNT rebounds with Ginebra demolition for 3-2 lead
The Gin Kings, like usual, just had no answers for TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who tallied another double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Unlike the first four games, the Best Import of the Conference had more resting time because TNT pulled away as early as the end of the first half where they led 56-33 at the intermission.
With their backs against the wall, the Gin Kings look to send the series to a decider. Game 6 is on Friday at the same venue.