Barangay Ginebra San Miguel head coach Tim Cone respectfully declined to talk about Game Two of their 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup semis clash with the Magnolia Hotshots on Monday night, where he was booted out for incurring two technical fouls.
The decorated tactician was sent out with 9:18 remaining in the fourth quarter as he was called for two consecutive technical fouls – the first for disrespectfully addressing the official, and the second for entering the playing court.
The 60-year-old’s outburst apparently started when referee Janine Nicandro changed her decision regarding ball possession, when the ball went out of bounds as Mark Barroca and Aljon Mariano battled for the rock.
Nicandro initially called it as Ginebra ball, but changed her mind and pointed to Magnolia’s court seconds later.
The Gin Kings tried to weather the storm, and even gave their rivals a run for their money. From an 83-95 deficit with 3:41 to go, the crowd darlings made a 14-4 rally to knock within just a field goal, 97-99, with 24 seconds left to play.
Unfortunately, the breaks of the game did not go their way, and they lost, 97-101.
Now, pressure is on the two-time defending champions as they try work their way out of the 0-2 hole – one wrong move in Game Three on Wednesday will end their hopes of securing a rare three-peat in the season-ending conference.
