Through the years, multi-titled coach Tim Cone had seen how teams which went via the tough grind winning against a squad which had an easier time disposing of its opponent.
“When you play tough opponents in the playoffs, that would sharpen you. It sharpens your game and I felt we were pretty sharp tonight. We shot the ball pretty well and we were locked in defensively. I think that’s the function of playing a tough Converge team like I’ve said sharpened us to that series,” said Cone, the winningest coach in PBA history and the only mentor able to accomplish two grand slams.
Cone and his Barangay Ginebra were sharp enough to survive a June Mar Fajardo-led San Miguel team, 99-90, at the start of their race-to-four semifinals series in the PBA Philippine Cup on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Fajardo had another easy 20-20 game, pumping his way for 27 points and 23 rebounds, but the Gin Kings, starring their shock troopers spearheaded by Ralph Cu and Norbert Torres, were able to withstand the team that has the most explosive second and third units in the league.
Cu finished with 13 points while Torres added eight, including two triples, that helped Ginebra in changing the complexion of the match.
Ginebra’s bench outscored San Miguel, 54-29, as super sub Don Trollano was held down to just five points on a dismal 1-of-7 shooting from the field.
Still, Cone believes that Converge, a team which it needed to beat twice in a row in the quarterfinal round, including a grueling overtime match in the winner-take-all showdown, has just prepared his squad for the bigger battles ahead against San Miguel, the No.1 seed in the tournament and the first team to make it to the semifinal round.
Cone had experienced a similar situation before.
“I remember a time when we swept a team. I think we swept them in the semifinals and then the other team went six or seven games and then they swept us four straight in the finals. We just got soft, thinking the games would be easy. We weren’t sharp,” said Cone.
Cone was referring to the 2010 Philippine Cup when he was still coaching the Alaska Aces, who swept ironically, Barangay Ginebra, in the semifinal round, but they were ambushed by the up and coming Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs coached by Ryan Gregorio, who swept them in the championship series.
“Tough opponents sharpened you. We had to go through the grind and it made us better,” added Cone.
