It may no longer be just about making the necessary adjustments for head coach Tim Cone and the rest of Barangay Ginebra after losing to TNT in Game 1 of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup Finals on Friday night.
“We got to change the narrative,” the league’s winningest mentor told reporters moments after their 95-89 defeat at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
He was clearly not in the mood for further discussion on the match, except admitting to the lapses by his players that led to the loss.
The Kings seemed particularly confused by the opposing defense, which has been the Tropang Giga’s bread-and-butter even more without the presence of Jayson Castro.
Their veteran is still continuing his recovery from knee surgery.
“I don’t know what to say,” Cone said. “We didn’t play well. We have to understand that this is going to be a lot tougher series than the last one.”
Ginebra’s own defense struggled, and was the reason why they lost a good lead early and fell by 11 points, 29-18, at the end of the first quarter after allowing their long-time corporate rivals to rifle in eight of their 14 three-pointers.
Forced to extend outside, their defense inside suffered, allowing Rondae Hollis-Jefferson to attack the lane. The two-time Best Import went on to finish with nearly a triple-double with 34 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists.
“We got confused out there with their defense, they defended well as usual. We got to step up our defense as well. We made way too many defensive mistakes,” said Cone, who’s aiming for championship no. 26.
Ginebra tried to come back behind Justin Brownlee and RJ Abarrientos, but it was too little, too late for the crowd darlings.
Cone and the Barangay cannot cry over spilled milk, though, with their attention all set now for Game 2 on Sunday in the same venue.
It’s much too important for the Kings not to fall behind 0-2 versus a squad that has beaten them in their last two Finals duels.
“We’ll deal with it and we’ll move forward. I’m kinda tired of saying that we’re outplayed and outcoached. I get tired of saying that,” he said.
#WATCH: “We got to change the narrative”
Tim Cone voices his frustration after Ginebra’s Game 1 loss to TNT 🏀
📹 @justinebacnis /Tiebreaker Times#PBA2025 pic.twitter.com/fnxLikTAUW
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) March 14, 2025
