–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Crowd darling Barangay Ginebra ushered in the new year with a masterful triumph over powerhouse San Miguel, a convincing showcase of its might that was far different from how it ended 2024, when it scored a victory with a buzzer-beating triple against Magnolia.
Yet head coach Tim Cone wasted no time comparing the manner which his squad pulled through in those contests. What’s important, he said, is staying on an even keel.
Article continues after this advertisement“You know—I think I said it in the last game—that every game is different, and I think we understand that as a group,” he said shortly after a 93-81 dismantling of corporate sibling Beermen at Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday night.
FEATURED STORIES SPORTS NBA: Jimmy Butler situation at Heat nothing new to Pat Riley SPORTS Cone looking for ways for Ginebra to have consistent, even-keel standard SPORTS PBA: Troy Rosario delivers best game for Ginebra“You know, your approach can’t change. Your approach has to stay solid as you try to create a standard with the way you play. And so that’s, I think, what we’re more focused on.”
With a 5-2 (win-loss) record to show for, the Gin Kings are now on a two-game winning streak. Before Sunday’s victory, the fancied club escaped the Hotshots—another sister team—on a Scottie Thompson triple at the buzzer on Christmas Day. Before that, Cone and his charges fell to a young Converge squad.
Article continues after this advertisement Good halves“Tonight, we put together two halves,” Cone said. “The other two games, we put together one good half and one bad half. Tonight, we were able to put two good halves together [even though] the second half was a struggle.”
Article continues after this advertisement“You know, keeping [the Beermen] at bay was a real struggle. But … this time we were a little bit more determined, I think,” he added.
Article continues after this advertisementFortunately for Cone, Barangay Ginebra will have plenty more chances to polish its game as it will have five more games left on its elimination round schedule. However, the first of those contests is shaping up as an interesting duel as the Gin Kings go up against top-ranked NorthPort, which has won all but one of its last seven matches, this Wednesday.
“They’re much more rounded in terms of size and, you know, they switch a lot on defense. So, you know, we’ll have to spend the next couple of days really delving into the video and figuring out how to play them,” he said of the Batang Pier.
Article continues after this advertisement“But no doubt about it: This was a big win for us tonight and a big one for us moving forward.”
Escudero welcomed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. who led the inauguration of the Sorsogon Sports Arena (SSA) in Barangay Balogo, this city, on the occasion of the province’s 130th anniversary and the 50th Kasanggayahan Festival.
Marcos signed Republic Act No. 12028, or the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (Aral) Program, during a ceremony held in the Malacañan Palace.
Also looking to build on a huge triumph is Meralco, which will plunge right back into action versus TNT this Tuesday, 7:30 p.m., at PhilSports Arena after taking the scalp of visiting Hong Kong, 88-83, also last Sunday.
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“We’ve been going through tough times. Our last two games were losses. We also had eight guys injuredpesowin,” said coach Luigi Trillo whose crew improved to 4-2 and will next tackle a Tropang Giga side raring to hike their 2-2 record. INQ
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