Resting key players vs SMB ‘right call’ as Ginebra gets top seed

Ginebra coach Tim Cone. PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines — Criticized for benching his star players in the second half of a blowout loss to San Miguel Beer, Barangay Ginebra head coach Tim Cone felt he and his coaching staff made the right decision after the Gin Kings clinched the top seeding in the PBA Philippine Cup.

“The coaching staff, they have to see the bigger picture. They have to see the risk and reward that goes on in playing,” said Cone after a 102-80 win over Terrafirma that secured the No. 1 spot for Ginebra on Monday.

“So that was a call we had to make and we made it early. And as it turned out, if I may say now, it’s the right call,” he added. “We’re the No. 1 seed, we’re where we want to be. We’re going to the playoffs healthy and fresh, and we feel we have a shot.”

Ginebra’s move to limit Stanley Pringle, Japeth Aguilar and LA Tenorio’s playing time against San Miguel Beer raised eyebrows as some fans saw it as a way to help the Beermen’s playoff chances.

But the Gin Kings had a grueling schedule to end their campaign in the elimination round, playing five games in seven days including a couple of back-to-backs.

“It’s been a tough week. We played five games in seven days, and we finished 4-1 in those five games,” said Cone. “We knew even back, before the first of those five games, that if we can go 4-1, we need to beat either Talk ‘N Text or San Miguel. One of the two. And, to get to that No. 1 seed or assure us of a top-four seed.”

“I think that after the Talk ‘N Text game, we were just so elated and happy to get that game that we didn’t show up for the San Miguel game. But we also knew that we had that cushion of playing today so we used that and we’re able to win tonight.”