rDABAWENYOS were all praises for seasoned coach Tim Cone and the Ginebra Gin Kings who set up a best-of-seven finals series with the Meralco Bolts after routing defending champion San Miguel Beermen, 117-92, in a do-or-die Game 5 of their 2016 PBA Governor's Cup semifinals series at the jampacked Smart Araneta Coliseum Friday evening.
Tim Cone, who secured his 30th finals appearance, outshone the brilliance of even the brightest of his stars that night - Justin Brownlee, Sol Mercado and Digos City' pride Scottie Thompson. Brownlee sank 26 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and issued seven assists while Thompson, drafted last year, scored career-high 24 points on top of his 15 rebounds while Mercado made 18 baskets including five triples.
Star Hotshots' Peter June Simon, in a Facebook chat, said, "Kuyaw gyud si Tim Cone mao ra akong ma comment heheheh (Tim Cone was at his best, that's all I can say). Too good of a coach." It can be recalled that Simon was also mentored by Cone when the latter was with Purefoods.
Veteran basketball organizer Rico Jhone Biliran, who was tournament commissioner of the Gaisano Grand Cup for several years, said, "Brilliance of Tim cone and the remarkable showing of Thompson brought ginebra to its first finals appearance (since Commissioner's Cup in 2013). If they continue to play system-based basketball, chances are mo champ sila (they will emerge champions)."
He added that the finals would be easier for Ginebra than the semis series with the Beermen.
Avid Ginebra fan Charles Raymond Maxey, commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission, for his part, said it's good to see Ginebra playing in the finals again, adding that the Gins seem to be determined to go all out for another championship.
"The Meralco-Ginebra finals clash is both intriguing and exciting. I have not been to a PBA game for quite a while. Now I will be there to root for my favorite team. Go Gins!," Maxey said.
Ateneo de Davao University Blue Knights coach Cholo Elegino, also a staff of the Sports Development Division of the City Mayor's Office, said that being a huge fan since his Grade School days, he's happy that the Kings entered the finals anew.
"I really hope they would win it all. It would be another crowning glory for coach Tim and icing on the cake for JJ (Helterbrand) and Mark C (Cagouia) on their illustrious career."
Davao Jones Academy basketball coach Rael Diaz, for his part, cited "high-caliber" Cone for his strategic plays.
Jose Maria College (JMC) Kings' Brian Lloyd Cabanilla, meanwhile, said he was really rooting for San Miguel, "pero pagkakita nako sa performance ni Thompson murag napa Ginebra ko, hahhahah (Seeing Thompson play last night made me cheer for Ginebra instead)."
Basketball coach Chito Ramos said Brownlee's defense of June Mar Fajardo was a big factor as he limited the latter from scoring a double figure while Mercado and Thompson stepped up for the team.
Ramos added, "Ginebra was hot right from the very start but SMB came back in the second quarter. For me, the third quarter was the deciding factor since their running game clicked and their defense was superb that is why they were able to hold SMB."
Against Meralco, Cone was quoted to have said that with coach Norman Black and Jimmy Alapag at the helm, the Bolts are not really inexperienced as others think they are. Meralco dismantled Talk N' Text Tropang Texters in Game 4 of their best-of-five semis series.
