PBA Finals: Ginebra coach Tim Cone hopes for jam-packed Pasig crowd

Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone during Game 2 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Ginebra coach Tim Cone isn’t just hoping for a Gin Kings win in Game 3 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals on Wednesday.

The veteran tactician also wants to see a gargantuan crowd take over the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

“I hope they’re [crowd] hanging from the rafters. I really do,” said Cone after their 71-70 win in Game 2 at Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday.

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“I hope they can find a seat or it reaches standing room only (SRO), whatever, but I’m excited that people are excited to watch our series. This is what we play for. We play for them.”

Cone had every reason to expect fans to swarm the Pasig arena on Wednesday. After all, the MOA Arena housed over 12,925 fans from the general admission area to the patron seats.

The Gilas Pilipinas coach also has quite the history at Philsports Arena.

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In their last crusade inside the famed sporting complex in Pasig, the Gin Kings defeated Northport in Game 2 of the conference’s semis in a dominant 119-106 victory.

It was also at Philsports Arena where Cone would occasionally hold open practice for Gilas Pilipinas before flying overseas for international games.

So it’s just right that Cone is expecting to see the relatively compact venue be packed for a Finals game.

“If there’s another 50,000 outside wanting to get in, I’ll be happy about that too.”

As if holding a Finals game was enough of an advertisement, Cone sold the upcoming bout with the Tropang Giga even more by stating the game would be a “tone-setter,” for the remainder of the best-of-seven series.

“Game 3 will be the tone-setter, obviously. They’re not going to be happy about this loss tonight. We’re happy we won but we’re certainly not satisfied.”