Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

Basketball

No edge whatsoever for wary Cone as Ginebra faces NorthPort in clash of familiar players


Ginebra head coach Tim Cone was quick to shun the reminder about his team’s mastery over NorthPort as the two teams cross paths in the 2022-23 PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals beginning on Wednesday.

The Kings have triumphed over the Batang Pier in their last eight encounters, including a 122-105 win just last November 27. But the league’s most accomplished mentor still looks at their opponents as a major threat.

“Don’t tell us that, please. Those are stats we don’t need to know,” he said with a chuckle. “Because there’s always a first time and you have the odds, and eventually, the odds will go in their favor.”

Cone used their latest victory to explain how tough an opponent NorthPort is, where they managed to pull away just in the fourth quarter.

“We had a tough time against them last game, until the early part of the fourth quarter, we were able to do a little bit of a breakaway,” he recalled.

Surely a huge reason why the Batang Pier were able to keep at par with the crowd darlings in the game’s first 36 minutes was familiarity.

Both clubs have figured in numerous trades in the past, the most recent of which was the deal involving Jamie Malonzo that saw Ginebra give up Arvin Tolentino, Jeff Chan, Prince Caperal, and Kent Salado.

Nine ex-Kings are now playing for NorthPort, Aside from the aforementioned four, there are also Kevin Ferrer, Art Dela Cruz, MJ Ayaay, Jerrick Balanza, and Paolo Taha, who were all acquired from separate deals.

#ReadMore  Malonzo, Rike ink deals with NorthPort

Cone is wary as he’s expecting his former players to play with an added push, just like what he saw in their elimination round encounter.

That night saw Tolentino lead NorthPort with 24 points on six three-pointers, together with six rebounds, three assists, and a steal without a turnover. Veteran wing Chan made his presence felt in the fight as well with 10 markers.

But with former Batang Pier stars Malonzo and Stanley Pringle around, Cone is hoping that they would somehow help reduce the other team’s edge.

“They certainly get motivated when they play us. Luckily, we got a couple of NorthPort players too in Stanley and Jamie. They get motivated as well. Hopefully, that kind of balances it all out,” he said.

Written By

Oftentimes on the sidelines. Forever a student of the game. Morayta-bred.




You May Also Like

Basketball

It may no longer be just about making the necessary adjustments for head coach Tim Cone and the rest of Barangay Ginebra after losing...

Basketball

TNT leaned on its hot shooting from beyond the arc early to beat Barangay Ginebra, 95-89, and gain the head start in the PBA...

Basketball

To say that their careers are forever intertwined may sound cliche, but that’s basically been the reality Tim Cone and Chot Reyes live in....

Basketball

Stephen Holt may find himself guarding another Best Player of the Conference candidate when the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup Finals gets rolling. Last...

Basketball

Jamie Malonzo is itching to play in the PBA Finals again after sitting helplessly on the sidelines during Barangay Ginebra’s previous trip to the...

Basketball

Justin Brownlee is hoping to flip the script this time as Ginebra and TNT author another chapter to their rivalry in the PBA Season...

Basketball

Troy Rosario feels excited to go up against the team he started out with as Ginebra and TNT will duke it out in the...

Basketball

RJ Abarrientos is under no illusion that things would be easier for Barangay Ginebra in its upcoming rematch with TNT in the PBA Season...

Advertisement