Blowing hot and cold in the early goings of the Governors’ Cup, coach Tim Cone is first to admit that Brgy. Ginebra San Miguel are still a work of progress.
Many expected that the transition of Stephen Holt, RJ Abarrientos, and Isaac Go to Brgy. Ginebra San Miguel would be seamless given their high-level talents.
It turned out to be the other way around, with head coach Tim Cone being the first to admit to the reality of it.
“It takes a lot of work together to develop a team… develop a team chemistry and guys figuring out what they’re gonna do to the team,” coach Tim said in in the aftermath of Brgy. Ginebra’s 119-91 romp of the NLEX Road Warriors on Tuesday, September 3.
“I mean, everybody is basically changing their role,” Cone added.
[ALSO READ: PBA: Stephen Holt posts double-double in 28-point Brgy. Ginebra rout of NLEX in Governors' Cup]
But amid the transition, Ginebra was quick to correct its course following a stunning loss to the Blackwater Bossing, pounding the Road Warriors from the get-go to earn their second victory of the PBA Governors’ Cup.
Brgy. Ginebra led by as many as 33 points and Cone credited Holt for setting the tone for the Gin Kings.
The reigning Rookie of the Year acquired in a trade with Terrafirma, Holt finished with a team-high 26 points with 11 rebounds, to go along with six assists in an all-round effort.
“Stephen got us off to a really good start. I thought that set the tempo and got everyone going.”
But the 66-year-old mentor admitted that the team is still figuring out their ways four games into the season, with their new players and new roles given to their veterans.
“Japeth [Aguilar] is changing his role because he is now not backing up Christian [Standhardinger]. He is now the main guy, asking to play more minutes and more touches and that is an adjustment to him.“
“Scottie coming in and playing with a guy like RJ. Both of them are great passers and neither [one of them] wants to shoot. Stephen having to be a [import] stopper and still be the scorer is a big adjustment to him. Those things needs to be addressed,” Cone added.
Overall, the winningest coach in league history praised the Brgy. Ginebra locals in stepping up and removing a heavy offensive load off their import Justin Brownlee.
“I really though we played with a good tempo tonight and I thought other guys, other than Justin, steps up and played aggressively and look for their shots especially Stephen [Holt], and RJ [Abbarientos], and Scottie [Thompson]. They’re all looking for theirs and that takes the pressure off Justin {Brownlee].”
Brgy. Ginebra aims to continue to its winning momentum against the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters on Friday, September 6 at 7:30 p.m. in the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.