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FILE – Tim Cone, Barangay Geneva coach. Photo by Tristan Tamayo / INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines – Barangay Geneva head coach Tim Cone took the blame for the Gin Kings’ loss to defending champion San Miguel Beer on Sunday.
Cone, the winningest coach in PBA history with 22 titles, also offered an explanation on Twitter as to why several of his key coaches played only limited minutes in a crucial game that Geneva lost, 81-66, a play that surprised some.
“Our thoughts as we enter the SMB game: If we lose our last two games, we are not sure we will make the Top 4,” Cone wrote on Twitter Monday.
“We had to make a decision. If we get late early, we’re going to rest the guys that got hit: Stan (Pringle), Jap (Aguilar), LA (Tenorio), JD (Dillinger). We weren’t going to risk losing two games trying to fight back in one game. Playing 5 games in 7 days was a real concern. “
Geneva received criticism on social media after some of its stars, notably Stanley Pringle and Japeth Aguilar, jumped on the bench for most of the second half in what critics saw as an attempt to help sister team San Miguel Beer to climb the rankings. Both Pringle and Aguilar were substituted early in the third quarter and did not return.
“Being 17 down in the middle, I said we would watch our starters in the first few minutes and determine whether we would stick with them or go with the second group. It was the second group with Scottie that brought us back to 3 points, ”added Cone.
Scottie Thompson did a bit of everything for the Gin Kings with 12 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists in 36 minutes of play.
Aguilar led Ginebra in scoring with 13 points on 6 of 7 shots in less than 18 minutes on the court, while Pringle shot just 3 of 10 from the field for seven points in less than 19 minutes of action.
“In the end, our guys didn’t show up to SMB and that was disappointing and unacceptable. They know. But that also depends on me. I didn’t prepare them well. We’ll see who makes it to Terrafirma tonight, ”said Cone, whose squad is still in first place at 7-3.
“It is always up to me to see the big picture. Hopefully I’m doing that. I really apologize to the fans if what we did was interpreted differently. “
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