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Cone disappointed with Ginebra's defense in 'embarassing' Game 4 loss
Sports
Basketball
Cone disappointed with Ginebra's defense in 'embarassing' Game 4 loss
Cone disappointed with Ginebra's defense in 'embarassing' Game 4 loss
Published Apr 18, 2023 01:35 am
Barangay Ginebra head coach Tim Cone has been known to be a defense-minded coach, that's why it’s understandable that he was visibly upset when he emerged from the Kings' dugout following an embarrassing 116-104 loss at the hands of TNT in Game 4 of the 2023 PBA Governors’ Cup Finals.
*Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone was disappointed with Ginebra's defense in Game 4. (PBA Images)*
Cone rued that the Kings never got anything going especially on defensive end as the Tropang Giga shot the lights out with a Finals record of 21 triples. “We didn’t defend, we didn't rebound. It was quite disappointing on many levels. It was embarrassing but like I said, it’s a series. (We have to) get ready for Wednesday,” said Cone in a brief interview with the members of the press. Indeed, Ginebra didn’t really struggle on the offensive end despite its explosion for 18 treys in Game 3 after breaching the 100-point mark along with a decent 15 triples to show but it was the team’s defense that was somewhat lacking in the contest. The Kings always looked a step slower against TNT which leaned on the season-ending conference Best Import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson to anchor and find his open shooters. That resulted in the Tropang Giga shooting 12-of-20 from beyond the arc in the first half alone. As much as the series has been dictated by which team shoots better from deep, Cone stressed that putting the clamps on the opposing three-point shooters will determine the winner of the game. Through the four games, Ginebra won Games 1 and 3 by outgunning TNT by 15 and 18, respectively. As it stands, TNT was able to come back by equaling or tallying more treys with 15 and 21 in Games 2 and 4. “We hit treys too but we didn’t defend. I’m not talking about shooting. I’m talking about defending,” clarified Cone as to what was the recipe of success so far in the Finals.
*Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone was disappointed with Ginebra's defense in Game 4. (PBA Images)*
Cone rued that the Kings never got anything going especially on defensive end as the Tropang Giga shot the lights out with a Finals record of 21 triples. “We didn’t defend, we didn't rebound. It was quite disappointing on many levels. It was embarrassing but like I said, it’s a series. (We have to) get ready for Wednesday,” said Cone in a brief interview with the members of the press. Indeed, Ginebra didn’t really struggle on the offensive end despite its explosion for 18 treys in Game 3 after breaching the 100-point mark along with a decent 15 triples to show but it was the team’s defense that was somewhat lacking in the contest. The Kings always looked a step slower against TNT which leaned on the season-ending conference Best Import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson to anchor and find his open shooters. That resulted in the Tropang Giga shooting 12-of-20 from beyond the arc in the first half alone. As much as the series has been dictated by which team shoots better from deep, Cone stressed that putting the clamps on the opposing three-point shooters will determine the winner of the game. Through the four games, Ginebra won Games 1 and 3 by outgunning TNT by 15 and 18, respectively. As it stands, TNT was able to come back by equaling or tallying more treys with 15 and 21 in Games 2 and 4. “We hit treys too but we didn’t defend. I’m not talking about shooting. I’m talking about defending,” clarified Cone as to what was the recipe of success so far in the Finals.