Justin Brownlee (with the ball) didn’t have to step up in Ginebra’s win over Phoenix. —PBA IMAGES
Barangay Ginebra is aiming for a third straight victory in the PBA Commissioners Cup on Sunday and waiting is a foe that coach Tim Cone says is a lot like his team.
“We’re a bit like them in some ways, from the outside looking in, so I think it’s going to be a really, really interesting battle,” he said of Hong Kong Eastern, who they face at 7:30 p.m. in Ynares. Antipolo city center.
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The Gin Kings put their impeccable record on the line against the visitors, who have built a 4-1 win-loss record in midseason conference play by playing top-notch defense.
“They’re doing some really good things, things you have to do to be a winning basketball team. They move the ball well and they move really well,” Cone said. “They’re a great defensive team that focuses on that side of the ball.”
The champion coach, who led the franchise to the Commissioners’ Cup at the expense of a visiting club two years ago, believes the Gin Kings will have something of a handicap ahead of the arena duel at the top of a hill.
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Return of the dragons
“Our thing is we’re playing our third game in five days, so that’s going to give them a little advantage. They had a little rest. Even if they played more matches than us. So we will see how we proceed,” he added.
Familiarity will also be a factor, as Cone and his charges will play against Glen Yang, Hayden Blankley and Kobey Lam, who played for the Bay Area Dragons who tested the pre-title Gin Kings in the 2022 edition of the tournament.
But the PBA’s winningest coach appears to have prepared his team for just that, having paid attention to Justin Brownlee and Japeth Aguilar’s minutes during Phoenix’s 94-72 rout last Friday night.
“You’re not going to surprise them because they’re fundamentally sound,” Cone said. “(But) I gave Justin some extra rest tonight, didn’t overextend Japeth, who, by the way, I thought played a great defensive game.”
San Miguel Beer hopes its sister company will indeed soften Hong Kong just before playing Eastern on December 22. But before that, the Beermen have to take care of business by kicking off a streak in the curtain-raiser against Blackwater.
Tipoff is at 5pm with the traditional powerhouse looking to build on a victory restoring pride at the expense of Terrafirma. INQ
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