Cone admits TNT ‘deserved it more than we did’ as Ginebra falls short anew

But the Barangay Ginebra head coach still made sure to give TNT its flowers after the Tropang Giga claimed the PBA Commissioner’s Cup throne, outlasting the Gin Kings by way of an 87-83 win in Game 7 on Friday, March 28.

“They made the big plays down the stretch, we didn’t. What else can I say?” said Cone in between shrugs. “They deserved it more than we did.”

“It was a classic finals, went to overtime, seven games. I don’t remember that happening before.”

Actually, it was the first time in a decade that a Game 7 of a finals got extended since Talk ‘N Text needed two more extra periods to dispose of Rain or Shine in the 2015 Commissioner’s Cup finals.

The defeat marked the third consecutive time Ginebra fell short in a title series as it also bowed to TNT in the finals of the past two Governors’ Cup editions.

It was also the first time Cone lost a Game 7 of a championship affair in 13 years, or since he and his former team B-Meg bowed to Rain or Shine in the 2012 Governors’ Cup.

“Could have gone either way, went to them,” said Cone.

The 67-year-old mentor put the Gin Kings in a position to win even as they blew a six-point lead in the fourth quarter, with import Justin Brownlee nailing a clutch three-pointer to send the game to an extra period.

But Ginebra simply fell apart in overtime, coughing up a bunch of turnovers as the Tropang Giga pulled through to capture their second straight championship of the season.

“I’m not going to be thrilled about anything at this point. I’m not a really good loser, to put it this way. The bottomline is we lost and they deserve it and they deserve the celebration,” said Cone.

Despite the loss, Cone still owns a record 25 championships – Rappler.com