Barangay Ginebra San Miguel head coach Tim Cone has never liked the idea of shooting baskets when a game has been all but settled. And he will never hide his anger when the opposing team does it to his own.
On Wednesday night, that happened. But it was from his own player.
With about 12 seconds left to play and with the Gin Kings just waiting for the final buzzer to formalize their win over rivals Meralco Bolts, Raymond Aguilar got the ball and suddenly pulled the trigger from mid-range. And it went in.
Of course, Cone got mad.
The 6-foot-4 power forward’s shot triggered the other team to take a shot as well, as rookie Trevis Jackson made a three-pointer just seconds later. Both their shots settled the final count of 86-76.
“I’m furious at Raymond for taking that last shot.
“I am absolutely steaming [mad]. I make a big deal about that – about not doing that to us – and I have a guy that goes out there and does it. I am just steaming mad,” Cone expressed
The two-time Grand Slam coach then capped off his post-game press conference with an apology to Meralco head coach Norman Black and to the whole Bolts team for what Aguilar had done.
“Sorry to Norman and Meralco for that last shot. I’m really sorry.”
The press contacted Aguilar for comments on that incident, but he respectfully declined the media men’s request for a quick interview, saying “no comment” as he made his way out of the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
