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Japeth Aguilar (right) was great with 25 points and 16 rebounds for Geneva. —PHOTO COURTESY OF PBA IMAGES
More than the spectacular team play of his charges, Barangay Geneva coach Tim Cone was proud of the wish of his charges on Sunday night.
“You cannot underestimate how important the all-Philippine crown is. We want it, and I think we showed it, ”Cone said after a 100-94 overtime win faded as all seemed lost in the closing seconds of regulation time and after the Gin Kings held the talented TNT to just one field goal for all games. an additional five minutes in Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.
Overtime showed an energetic Geneva team refusing to show signs of fatigue, as Stanley Pringle and Aljon Mariano scored timely baskets and with the entire team defending the band to keep Tropang Giga only in that basket that arrived on the mark. end of 1:20.
Japeth Aguilar then delivered an empathetic two-handed punch to freeze the count and give the crowd something to start Game 2 with.
“[W]When you put in perspective that we’re coming off a five-game series and having to come here and stretch into overtime? I am very proud of our team and I am sure they are also proud of theirs (Tropang Giga), at least when it comes to effort, “said Cone.
But Cone and his Kings won the point that mattered that night, and they have all the momentum they need for Game 2 on Wednesday, as TNT, as the team reported, will likely miss Bobby Ray Parks Jr. due to a strain at home. calf. injury that aggravated Sunday night.
The tournament leader in statistical points with an average of 38.3, he will likely return for Game 3 on Friday, although the team is not ruling out the fact that he could play and give Tropang Giga a boost.
He led TNT with 20 points that went with five steals, but the injury that forced him out of the first game in the bubble against Alaska performed well.
And it couldn’t have come at the most awkward moment when it comes to Tropang Giga.
The Kings were on the verge of losing Game 1, as Parks had two free throws to give TNT a three-point lead. He split his charities with 12 seconds remaining, and it was more than enough time for Cone to need to prepare a play to seal the overtime before Geneva put the finishing touches on the extension and snatched psychological control for the next game.
But Cone, who has seen it all in this league in a career that has spanned more than three decades and counting, refuses to speak confidently.
“They have a lot of weapons there, they have a lot of ways to play,” Cone said of the enemy. “This is only the first game. There will be a lot of ups and downs in terms of everything, in terms of scoring and in terms of fit. “
For TNT coach Bong Ravena, sloppy plays during the most crucial moments brought his Tropang Giga in.
“We were really careless,” he told reporters here. “Throughout the game, we have been struggling with our defense. And we cannot afford that. That was totally different compared to the way [we defended] in the semifinals against Phoenix. “
Cone isn’t expecting a short series, but obviously wouldn’t mind finishing this shorter than the seven-game route.
He has been keenly aware of the minutes his aces have played before the Finals, even receiving much criticism for leaving his starters on the bench in a loss to San Miguel Beer near the end of the eliminations.
And with that, he seems to be on his way to having the last laugh.
“Let’s see how new people can stay in this truly rigorous seven-game series,” he said. INQ
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