Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings’ Scottie Thompson during a PBA Philippine Cup game against Phoenix Fuel Masters. –PBA IMAGES
Barangay Ginebra had its first back-to-back win in the PBA Philippine Cup on Friday in what coach Tim Cone hopes would be a sign of good things to come.
But after the Gin Kings’ 119-112 victory over the Phoenix Fuel Masters, Cone knows that they still have things to tidy up before a killer windup to the eliminations.
“We really have a tough ending schedule so every game we get at this point, every win we get at this point is really crucial for us in terms of getting to that top four,” Cone said after the crowd favorites climbed up to joint third with the San Miguel Beermen at 4-2.
Ginebra still has Blackwater, which like Phoenix is among those struggling in the eliminations, on May 23 before facing Meralco, Magnolia, TNT and Rain or Shine in succession.
“That’s why we are trying to smooth out our game as we go,” Cone added.
Cone liked what Ginebra did in taking down Phoenix with Scottie Thompson posting a double-double and Japeth Aguilar, Stephen Holt and RJ Abarrientos providing key contributions as well.
The Gin Kings went up by 22, enough reason to end the day on a happy note. But Cone acknowledged that things got sloppy in the end and the Fuel Masters were able to make the final count respectable.
Does that give Cone reasons to be highly concerned?
“It’s not something that we gonna dwell on,” said Cone. “But it certainly needs to be talked about.”
Meanwhile, Zavier Lucero and Magnolia look to move on from the much-talked incident with Meralco’s Cliff Hodge and take a crack at a perfect 7-0 record on Sunday at Ynares Center II in Montalban, Rizal.
The Hotshots’ opponent in the 7:30 p.m. match is the equally physical Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, who are returning from a long layoff after going 3-2 in their first five matches.
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Lucero’s focus will be on hurdling that challenge after he was beside himself when he was the recipient of a clumsy foul from Hodge in Wednesday’s 112-97 win. Hodge was banned one game and fined P100,000 by the PBA Commissioner’s Office.
