HEAD Coach Tim Cone wanted his Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Gin Kings to match—or better, surpass—the Hongkong Bay Area Dragons’ discipline if they want the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup trophy to remain on home soil.
“We’ve always been known as a pretty disciplined team, but we have to live up to that and take it to another level to have a chance to beat this team [Dragons] over seven games,” Cone told BusinessMirror on New Year’s Day just before the Gin Kings returned to practice.
The best-of-seven Finals is tied at 1-1 after the Dragons displayed discipline and composure in Game 2, 96-81, last Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena. The visitors appeared to have groped for form in taking a 99-82 loss in Game 1.
The Gin Kings only took a day’s break from practice on New Year’s Eve and, according to Cone, everyone on the team can’t wait to return to action in Game 3 scheduled at 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“Everybody was mad about themselves in practice after that Game 2 loss,” Cone said.
After LA Tenorio’s breakout game of 22 points in Game 1, Songwei Zhu took his turn for stardom in Game 2 and bounced back with 25 points after making only 12 points in the Finals opener.
Tenorio, on the other hand, went 3 of 11 for a “measly” eight points on Wednesday night.
Cone said neither import Justin Brownlee nor his Dragons counterpart Andrew Nicholson dictated the results of Game 2.
He said is boiled down to discipline.
“They are a very disciplined team and they showed in Game 2 how disciplined they are in defense,” Cone said. “So we have to master discipline and we just have to play a lot better—we have to give a second look on what they’re doing.”
Season Most Valuable Player Scottie Thompson said they remain optimistic of their chances but admitted that they have to adjust for Game 3.
“This is a series so we have to adjust and we’re still optimistic about the game plan of our coaches,” said Thompson, a leading contender for the Best Player of the Conference.
Thompson is averaging 11.5 points, six rebounds and four assists in two games of the championships series.