PBA Finals: Ginebra ‘outphysicaled’ by TNT in Game 4 loss, says Cone
Ginebra coach Tim Cone looks on during Game 4 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals against TNT.–PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines–Coach Tim Cone felt Barangay Ginebra couldn’t overcome TNT’s physicality and energy that contributed to the Game 4 loss in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
The Gin Kings went down 106-98 before 16,000 fans at Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday as the Tropang 5G got a huge lift from their locals in turning the series level at two games apiece.
“We got beat up there in the second half,” lamented Cone after cutting off Justin Brownlee’s interview with the media afterwards. “They outphysicaled us. They totally outplayed us in the second half. It just looked like we were tired.
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Cone also rued the lack of help from the bench, with Troy Rosario having the chunk of the 24 points from the reserves, posting 11.
“It was a night when we needed something from our bench, and we couldn’t get anything from our bench tonight and that really hurt,” Cone also said. “We wanted to come back and do something special today and try to get that 3-1 lead, which is really, really hard to do.
“[But] we just weren’t able to do it. They out-energized us, they outphysicaled us. Frankly, they outplayed us there in the second half.”
The finals have been reduced to a best-of-three following Wednesday’s defeat, with Ginebra looking to regroup before Game 5 on Friday at the same venue.
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Ginebra’s defeat put for naught the coronation of Justin Brownlee as Best Import and RJ Abarrientos as Best Player of the Conference.
Brownlee scored 32 while Abarrientos had 21, but Scottie Thompson, who got his 5,000-career point plaque, could only score four points.
“I’m happy for R.J. I’m happy for Justin. I’m happy for Scottie and his 5,000. But the bottom line is we’ve got to win basketball games if we’re going to win the championship,” said Cone.
