Star Hotshots Head Coach Tim Cone hopes the squad’s confidence does not go over the limit after overwhelming the GlobalPort Batang Pier with a record-breaking 126-73 demolition Friday night.
The Hotshots set the mark for the biggest winning margin in PBA playoffs history, and came two points shy of tying the record for most-lopsided victory in any PBA outing.
While the victory was booming, Star is only halfway done, and Cone hopes the team showcases the same effort to move a step closer to defending its PBA Governors’ Cup crown.
“I guess we just kept pummeling them through but the bottomline is, we are not playing a 48-minute game,” Cone said. “We are playing a 96-minute game so we are at halftime in our minds. It will go back to zero-zero. We haven’t achieved anything yet. We cannot pat ourselves at the back.”
Cone added the winning margin, no matter how lopsided a contest is, does not matter because the Hotshots have another battle to win.
“A 30- or 40-point win is the same as a one-point win. Truly, it is a throw away game for us and the real battle starts on Sunday,” he said.
The Star mentor hopes his wards could dish out the same effort without getting ahead of themselves in an all-important clash that may determine the end of the season for either squad.
“I hope it’s not too high because if it is, it’s overconfidence. This is a game that we just have to throw away. After bad losses you can hang your head but after good wins you can hold your head too high. We have to stay even. We have to play another 48 minutes.”
*Photo from PBA Images
