Ginebra head coach Tim Cone was ‘pleasantly surprised’ that his wards were able to match the will of a motivated Meralco that ultimately enabled them to push their 2022 PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinal series to the distance.
The Barangay eked out a 94-87 win in Game Two on Friday, but not before withstanding a physical affair that saw bodies colliding and falling onto the floor — much to the delight of the crowd that trooped to the FilOil EcoOil Center.
So rough was the match that Bolts vet Cliff Hodge suffered a busted lip at the 2:08-mark of the opening period after an accidental hit from Prince Caperal.
“I was pleasantly surprised that we were able to match their will tonight,” the league’s winningest mentor said shortly after the victory.
Emotions ran high even before the match, with Christian Standhardinger and seldom-used Bolts guard Franky Johnson at the center of a commotion that led them to the office of Deputy Commissioner Eric Castro.
Cone admitted that he doesn’t have much knowledge about the incident and will let the league take care of it, but was pleased with how his Kings managed to overcome the toughness of the joust to avoid elimination.
His charges took an 11-point lead at the half, and found an extra gear later with Japeth Aguilar and Scottie Thompson opening the final period with back-to-back three-point plays for a 75-71 lead with 9:58 to go.
Momentum then shifted on their side since then, and the troika of LA Tenorio, Christian Standhardinger, and Stanley Pringle all came through in the endgame to ensure the victory for the crowd darlings.
“This game wasn’t for boys today. This is a man’s game today.
“It was physical, it was rough and tumble, there’s blood on the floor. They’re trying to do something that they haven’t done against us and we know that,” Cone said.
“We have so much respect for them. They’re showing their desire, by the way, they’re coming out, playing physically, diving all over the floor … they’re just showing that great desire that they have,” he added.
The deciding Game Three is just 48 hours away and Cone knows how tough things will be for his side given that quick turnaround.
But the key to leaving the Mall of Asia Arena with the W in the bag, according to the 64-year-old, is matching the Bolts’ physicality once again.
“For us to come out and play well in Game Three, we’re gonna have to continue to match that physicality,” offered Cone.
“That’s really the name of the game of this series. Like I said, it’s not a series for young men, or boys, this is a series for men.”
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The second game of each PBA gameday is live-streamed on SMART Sports.</e
