Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings coach Tim Cone after Game 1 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals against TNT Tropang Giga. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—It was an all-too-familiar ending for coach Tim Cone and Ginebra Gin Kings on Friday.
Ginebra suffered yet again another Game 1 loss to TNT, 95-89, this time the 2024-2025 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals opener of the best-of-seven series. miliar for Ginebra.
And Cone, quite simply, is tired of it.
HIGHLIGHTS: PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals – Ginebra vs TNT Game 1
“I’m getting tired of saying that we’re outplayed and out-coached. I’m getting tired of saying that so we have to change the narrative,” said a frustrated Cone.
“It’s Game 1. It’s not what we wanted but we’ll deal with it and move forward.”
Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings coach Tim Cone after Game 1 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals against TNT Tropang Giga. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Ginebra’s loss to TNT on Friday marked the fourth straight time the Gin Kings dropped a game at the hands of coach Chot Reyes and company dating back to last conference.
In theor elimination round meeting in January, TNT dropped Ginebra, 91-86, behind a 32-point explosion from Calvin Oftana.
READ: PBA Finals: RHJ powers TNT past Ginebra for 1-0 lead
Before that, the Gin Kings dropped two straight games in the Governors’ Cup Finals as TNT came away with the championship.
Four months have passed and it seems the Gin Kings still couldn’t quite solve the puzzle that is the Tropang Giga but Cone knows where they should start.
“We have to understand that this will be a much tougher series than it was the last time. We got a bit confused out there because of their defense. They defended very well as usual,” he said.
“We have to step up our defense as well, we made too many defensive mistakes.”
Ginebra certainly didn’t do enough on defense, especially after Rondae Hollis-Jefferson nearly tallied a triple-double with 34 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists.
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Cone and company look to fix all their issues on Sunday when Game 2 rolls around at the same venue in Pasay.