Coach Tim Cone is hoping for a big recovery from Barangay Ginebra San Miguel as it tries to draw level with Meralco in Game 2 of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals.
The Gin Kings will be eager to come back strong after being handed a 104-91 defeat by the Bolts in the series opener at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Game 2 is set Friday, April 8 at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“Frankly, we were terrible, they were great,” Cone said. “They looked prepared and motivated, we looked as if we were taking a walk in the park. We’re hoping we can turn that around in Game 2.”
Ginebra saw itself fall behind by double figures in the second quarter with Meralco being led by the hot shooting of Allein Maliksi.
A third quarter comeback was in the offing, pulling within five points but it was the closest the Gin Kings could ever get at the Bolts, who responded with a big run that turned Game 1 into a rout.
Scottie Thompson had a triple-double, Christian Standhardinger was solid but LA Tenorio went 1-of-8 from the field for only five points.
Justin Brownlee scored 27 but was held to a conference-low 7-of-20 from the field while role players key during the playoff run like Nards Pinto, Jeff Chan, Arvin Tolentino and Joe Devance also struggled.
Japeth Aguilar still didn’t play due to his calf injury, his absence obviously affecting Ginebra while Aljon Mariano was still shaking off rust after playing for the first time since the Philippine Cup.
Thirty of the 41 teams that won the first two games of a best-of-seven championship series have gone on to capture the crown, and Cone would not want to deal with having to be on the other side of the coin.
“Needless to say, we don’t want to fall into a 2-0 hole,” he said.