Dec 28, 2022

Cone admits Kings simply outplayed in Game 2 loss

BARANGAY Ginebra paid the price of being out of focus and a little bit confident in Game 2, resulting in a 99-82 loss to the Bay Area Dragons that tied the PBA Commissioner's Cup title series on Wednesday night.

Coach Tim Cone made a frank assessment about the17-point drubbing that saw the Kings held to their fewest output in a finals since Game 3 of last season's Governors' Cup against Meralco (83-74).

"We didn't have a whole lot of focus from the start I felt. They got everything they wanted tonight, and we didn't get anything that we wanted to do. They did a great job of disrupting (us)," said Cone after emerging from the Ginebra dugout at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Only import Justin Brownlee and sophomore Jamie Malonzo submitted double figures in scoring for the Kings.

Brownlee had 32 points on 7-of-14 shooting from three-point range, while Malonzo finished with 10, but shot just 4-of-10 from the field.

Sponsored content:
Veteran guard LA Tenorio, who exploded for 22 points in the Game 1 win, was held to just eight points this time (3-of-11), and Scottie Thompson had nine after going for 14 points in the series opener.

"They made the proper adjustment (tonight). They really disrupted our offense and we couldn't get to our spots," admitted Cone.

At the same time, the Ginebra mentor felt the Kings got a little bit confident after the Christmas Day win which marked the Kings' second straight win against the guest team from Hong Kong counting the eliminations.

"I think one thing that we learned tonight is that we just started to feel like we just showed up and win, and we can't do that against this team that's way, way, too good and too big, too athletic, and too well-coached," added Cone. (RG)