Multi-titled mentor Tim Cone breathed a huge sigh of relief as the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel were able to gut out a 99-91 win over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, to advance to the semifinals of the 2017-18 PBA Philippine Cup.
For the third straight game between the two squads, the Gin Kings and the Elasto Painters duked it out in a close contest. Thanks to the big buckets of Japeth Aguilar and Sol Mercado, the Gin Kings were able to eke out a sweep.
“That was just a huge relief to get through it,” expressed Cone.
“Now we face the monster.”
Waiting on the wings is the beast that is the three-time, defending Philippine Cup champions San Miguel Beermen.
“That’s San Miguel. You can refer that to San Miguel or you can refer that to June Mar [Fajardo],” quipped the 20-time PBA champion coach.
Though focused on the task at hand last night, Cone was also keeping an eye on the Beermen, who were able to eliminate the TNT Katropa, 106-93. Moreover, the American tactician saw how Fajardo had his way with the Katropa, as the reigning Most Valuable Player finished with 35 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocks.
That is why Cone is hoping for an Alaska win against NLEX to at least give them an added day to prepare.
“But we got them coming up so hopefully, I think, that NLEX loses tonight. Then it goes an extra day, we might get an extra day for us. Right?,” Cone pointed out.
“I need to know because I need to plan our practice tomorrow.”
Besides the added time to prepare, Cone believes that the extra day will also lead to Ginebra’s own big man Greg Slaughter’s return for the series opener. Slaughter, who was averaging 16.71 points and 10.43 rebounds prior to his injury, is currently nursing a bum ankle.
“Our big question mark obviously is whether Greg is gonna play.
“I would say, if we’re gonna play a day after tomorrow, he won’t play. But if given another day or two, he may play. But we do expect him back some time in the series,” Cone disclosed.
“We just hope we don’t fall too far behind without him, whether he can make an impact. That’s the big thing for us, whether Greg can play. That would really help us equalize San Miguel,” he added.
“He’d be the great equalizer.”
