Tim Cone, head coach of Barangay Ginebra, isn’t dwelling on the team’s crushing 27-point defeat in Game 5 of the PBA Finals against TNT Tropang Giga. Instead, he’s urging his players to focus on a comeback as they prepare for a must-win Game 6 in the Season 49 Governors’ Cup title series.
Despite the 99-72 blowout loss on Wednesday night, which puts TNT ahead 3-2 in the best-of-seven series, Cone remains unfazed. “It’s one game in a series, not ‘the series,’” Cone told reporters after the game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. “Whether you lose by 30 points or one, it doesn’t matter. Bottom line is, we lost.”
Ginebra’s Worst Finals Loss in Six Years
The 27-point defeat marks Ginebra’s worst PBA Finals loss in six years, with the previous record dating back to 2018 when the Kings fell to San Miguel, 132-94, in Game 3 of the Commissioner’s Cup Finals. However, Ginebra rebounded in that series to claim the title in six games—something Cone hopes to replicate in their current uphill battle.
Reflecting on the loss, Cone admitted that his team looked fatigued despite coming off a two-day break. “We looked overly tired tonight. We weren’t moving well,” he noted, expressing concern over the team’s energy levels following back-to-back wins that had leveled the series at 2-2.
A Desperate Game 6 Awaits
With Ginebra now facing elimination, Cone emphasized the need to play with “a little bit of desperation” in Game 6. “Our backs are to the wall,” the 66-year-old champion coach said. “We have to come out and give everything we’ve got. No one feels the weight of this loss more than I do, but we just have to move on and get ready for the next game.”
Game 6 is set to tip off at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Friday night. Should Ginebra prevail and force a Game 7, the final showdown would take place on Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Jaja has a degree in journalism and took classes in international law and business communication. Her career spans roles at prominent international media outlets, including International Business Times, Celebeat and Delightful Philippines. As a news editor, Jaja covered a wide range of beats, including legal, business, economy, cryptocurrency, personal finance, gaming, technology, and entertainment.