After being held to his conference-low performance in Game 1, Ginebra looks to give Justin Brownlee more space and touches to get him into the offensive flow.
The resident Kings import didn’t look like in his usual self and only finished with 11 points after taking only seven shots although he had 13 rebounds and six assists.
Ginebra head coach Tim Cone credited the Magnolia defense which denied Brownlee his regular touches and forced him to play more of a playmaker and rely on his teammates in terms of scoring.
Brownlee never really got into offensive rhythm all-game long, even missing two crucial free throws in the waning seconds that could have sealed the deal for the Kings.
“We’re used to getting this stuff from Justin and they took a lot of what Justin normally gets away with so we got to credit them, their defense, their scouting and the coaching staff for really coming out with a really good plan,” said Cone after the Kings escaped with an 87-84 victory in the Game 1 of their best-of-five semifinals series.
Brownlee’s struggles somehow neutralized the absence of Magnolia import Nick Rakocevic who got thrown out early in the third frame, allowing the Hotshots to give the Kings some fits even with the disadvantage.
Bracing for the fightback from Magnolia, especially Rakocevic, Cone said Ginebra needs Brownlee to get going in Game 2 which, if they win, could put them a victory away from making it back to the PBA Finals.
“Now that we’ve seen it, we hopefully figure out ways to counter it and get Justin more looks in Game 2. That will be on our coaching staff to do that and the guys on the floor,” said Cone who also emphasized that playing in a series is about the game of adjustments.
“That was what the series is all about. It’s about counters and adjustments and to what the other team is doing. So they’re gonna counter all the steps that we did today and we have to counter the steps that they did today,” he stressed.
He also warned the King of complacency, reminding his charges that winning the first game of the series does not guarantee them going all the way – not in the face of a still very dangerous rival like the Hotshots.
“I just think it’s gonna be a heck of a series. It just so happens that we take Game 1. Game 1 is crucial and doesn't guarantee you a win in the series but it does give you a very important leg up moving forward,” he added.