So far, the 2018 PBA Commissioners’ Cup Finals has been strange to say the least.
Both protagonists, the San Miguel Beermen and the Barangay Ginebra Kings, have suffered blowouts left and right. With it, both of the team’s head coaches have exchanged the exact same pleasantries to one another.
Austria was full of acknowledgements towards the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, following the 100-130 beating San Miguel received in Game Four of the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup Finals, Friday night.
“It’s my turn to tell coach Tim, nice bawi,” said Austria, as Cone said the same message back in Game Two, where the Beermen were able to send the series to its’ first deadlock with a dominant 134-109 victory.
“And then before this game he kept on telling me na we’re too good and too strong for them,” added the reigning Perpetual Coach of the Year, referring to what Cone had said back in Game Three that saw Ginebra fall, 94-132.
“It’s not true.”
For Austria, the way the Gin Kings played on Friday only attested to the claim made by Cone prior to the Finals, when the multi-titled tactician said that his Gin Kings can go man-for-man with the Beermen with their pieces.
“He’s right before na his team is the only team… That could beat San Miguel and that’s very evident tonight,” said Austria.
Newly-minted Best Import Justin Brownlee led Ginebra with 37 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists. But it wasn’t just a Brownlee show for the Barangay like in Game Three, as he received huge support from the locals.
Greg Slaughter played his best game this series with 19 points and eight caroms. Joe Devance had 18 points and five boards, LA Tenorio had 17 markers and six dimes, and Scottie Thompson added eight feeds, seven points, and six boards.
For Austria, he felt that the Beermen didn’t have the kind of effort they showed back in the last two games.
“What lacked from us is effort and my meaning of effort is you have to outwork your opponent,” Austria rued. “And it seems like ang effort ay nasa Ginebra. That’s the key. That’s what happened in Game Two and Game Three.
“We had a lot of effort. And now, it’s their turn. And I think with that bad start, it’s hard to beat any team especially in the Finals,” he added, as San Miguel succumbed to a 0-17 start, which matched their worst start in the 2017 Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
The series has now been reduced to a virtual best-of-three. And with the series back to square one, Austria admitted that he has now turned worrisome.
“I think next game it will be a different ball game. I’m a little bit worried because… It’s a best-of-three, I think this will be on a crowd, ano. And they will be having a sixth man, which is the crowd,” said the 60-year-old strategist.
“But I hope my team will realize [what] the stakes in the last three games [will be].”
