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SMART CLARK GIGA CITY – Barangay Geneva has a chance to rise to the top of the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup rankings on its own when it crosses paths with fellow TNT Tropang GIGA title favorites this Friday as the heated race playoffs is turning into a sprint.
The Gin Kings gained a share of the lead following their 112-100 win over brave NorthPort on Wednesday. The same night, Tropang Giga absorbed a 92-102 beating at the hands of the defensive-minded Magnolia.
Both teams, who have secured the quarterfinals, look identical 6-2 cards.
However, getting to the top position is the least of your worries. Instead, the decorated mentor aims to clinch one of the top four spots first, giving teams the coveted two-time lead to win for the quarterfinals.
“We are not really concerned about the top seed, we are concerned about the Top Four. Tonight’s game was really crucial for that place in the top four. “ he said.
“If we are 1, 2, 3 or 4 it really doesn’t make much difference.”
Cone even recalled a few times in the past when his team secured the number one spot but lost. Take B-Meg’s loss to eventual runner-up Powerade in the 2011-12 Philippine Cup quarterfinals for example.
Their Geneva also experienced something similar at the 2018 Governors’ Cup. They appeared to be poised for a triple after emerging as the best team at the end of the eliminations, only to bow to Magnolia in the semi-finals.
“In fact, as you know, I haven’t done well with the best teams. They always seem to beat us in the quarters. It happened at Purefoods. It happened in Geneva. I’m a bit cautious with that first seed. “ he said.
That doesn’t mean that they won’t accept it if they become number one. But the game against MVP Group’s flagship franchise, Cone said, is just a “head-to-head game” for which they have to prepare hard.
But we will accept it if we succeed. It’s just a head-to-head game with Talk N Text. They play a style that is a little different from ours. They go up and down the court very well, they make a lot of three-point shots. “ opined.
“We are a slightly more stable team. We play the tempo game a little more, and we try to work the ball, we use the clock a little more. There is going to be a real contrast in the styles when we play them. “ he offered.
“One is not necessarily better than the other, it will really come down to who can execute. That is what we are going to focus on: execution both on offense and defense ”.
