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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider SMB simply the better team, admits Cone

SMB simply the better team, admits Cone

Published Jan 17, 2026 02:33 pm

At A Glance

  • Ginebra tried to mount the comeback in the ensuing frames but the lead proved to be too much for the Kings to overcome with Don Trollano also putting in the finishing touches in the final frame.

Tim Cone. (PBA Image)
Tim Cone. (PBA Image)
Barangay Ginebra head coach Tim Cone admitted that San Miguel simply came out the better team as the Beermen closed out the series against the Kings, 101-88 in Game 6 of their best-of-seven semifinals affair in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup.
The defending champions went off to a blistering start in the clincher behind the historic explosion from CJ Perez, who fired 30 of his career-high 41 points in the opening frame.
Ginebra tried to mount the comeback in the ensuing frames but the lead proved to be too much for the Kings to overcome with Don Trollano also putting in the finishing touches in the final frame.
“They (Beermen) were obviously the better team. They made all the big shots, they made all the big stops, not just tonight, but for the whole series,” said Cone as he made his way out of the Big Dome on Friday, Jan. 16.
“Tonight, CJ came out and deflated the energy of our defense by the shots he made,” Cone said of the SMB star who nailed all of his first 12 attempts on the field.
“Our defense didn’t go tonight, got better in the second half, but every time there was a big moment, we made turnovers or we couldn’t get a stop. That was just kind of the story in the whole series – we couldn’t step up big time and they did. That was the series,” he added.
The Kings gave themselves a shot at extending the series when they cut the lead down to just four points, 79-83, but they found no answer to Trollano who picked up the mantle from Perez after he was saddled by foul trouble.
Scottie Thompson tried to carry the fight for Ginebra with 24 points but it was not enough to extend the series to a sudden death Game 7.
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