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GRAND slam coach Earl Timothy “Tim” Cone and his Barangay Ginebra San Miguel look to a 2-0 lead over Meralco in their best-of-five semifinal showdown at the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup on Friday at the gymnasium of the Fundación Universitaria de Ángeles in Pampanga. .
But the winningest PBA coach with 22 titles, including two grand slam, reminded his charges to immediately focus on the second game and forget the one-game lead they took after defeating the Bolts in the first game ( 96-79) last Wednesday.
“Yesterday ended last night. That’s what we need our boys to be thinking about. We have to fast forward from last night and focus on today’s practice and tomorrow’s game, ”Cone told BusinessMirror, who drew 19 points and seven rebounds from Stanley Pringle in Game One.
Cone insisted that they need to show hunger in this series.
“Everything went well for us and everything went wrong for them in the last game,” he said. “That is not going to happen tomorrow. We’re going to need to come out mentally stronger. “
Earl Scottie Thompson had a complete performance of 13 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for Geneva.
After neutralizing the San Miguel Beer double incentive ending the Beermen’s five-season dynasty, the Bolts seemed sluggish at the start of their semi-final series against the Gin Kings.
Coach Norman Black, however, refused to make excuses after that one-sided loss. He said they need to come out stronger and smarter.
“Now it is quite clear that we have to play at a higher level to beat Geneva. Offensively, defensively we just have to execute better, ”Black said. “More importantly, we have to play with more energy and match his intensity level on the court.”
Meanwhile, TNT Tropang Giga coach Ferdinand “Bong” Ravena said he was unhappy with the way they played Phoenix Super LPG in Game One, which they narrowly won, 95-93.
“We are not at all happy with the way we play. We had a lot of breakdowns, ”Ravena said. “They played very well. We must play better or we will get into trouble. “
Matthew Wright, who suffered an ankle injury in the first half of Game One and did not return, believes his team Phoenix could win the series despite losing Game 1.
“They played well enough to win and I’m proud of them,” said Wright, who will be a decision to play on Friday.
The Geneva-Meralco match is set at 3:45 pm, while the TNT-Phoenix match begins at 6:45 pm
