Coach Tim Cone couldn’t focus on anything other than Barangay Ginebra’s dismal loss at the hands of former pupil LA Tenorio and Magnolia to open the PBA’s 50th season.
‘I’m happy for LA, sad for myself,’ Cone said as the Gin Kings absorbed an 80-73 defeat in the Philippine Cup on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
There was a lot of talk about the coaching battle between Cone and Tenorio coming into the game, which ended with the Hotshots taking control for the majority of the contest.
‘You guys are making a big deal out of it,’ Cone said of the faceoff with Tenorio. ‘We’re friends. It’s the same thing when I played against Chot Reyes or Jeff Cariaso, or Johnedel Cardel, or Willy Wilson. They’re all my ex-players, ex-coaches, Luigi Trillo, you know. It’s the same.
‘It’s much bigger for LA than it was for me tonight. Put it that way. It was his first game, he’s gonna remember it. I’m gonna forget this one really quickly,’ added Cone.
Ginebra got 16 points and 17 rebounds from Stephen Holt, but Scottie Thompson was scoreless and Japeth Aguilar could only produce five points and five rebounds.
The Gin Kings also turned the ball over 21 times.
‘Too many turnovers, not enough effort on defense, didn’t execute tonight, didn’t play a very good game at all,’ Cone lamented.
‘Give credit to them, they were more prepared than we were. They looked sharper, looked better.’