Tim Cone and Barangay Ginebra will definitely get their hands full against the top seed Northport Batang Pier in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup semifinals.
A familiar foe stands in the way of Barangay Ginebra’s quest to reach the PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals and win it all.
It’s none other than the top-seeded NorthPort Batang Pier, a team which head coach Tim Cone considers to be the real deal.
“That’s a real team. They’re solid up and down the lineup,” the winningest coach in PBA history said on One News’ Play by Play.
Ginebra became the last team to reach the semifinal round of the mid-season tournament, scraping a hard-fought three-game quarterfinal series win over rival Meralco Bolts.
[ALSO READ: Ginebra extends dominance over playoff rival Bolts in Game 3, enters PBA Comm's Cup semis]
It only gets tougher for Ginebra.
A best-of-seven clash with the ascending Batang Pier, led by the triumvirate of BPC frontrunner Arvin Tolentino, Joshua Munzon, and import Kadeem Jack, await the Barangay.
[ALSO READ: PBA semifinals: NorthPort tests mettle against battle-hardened Ginebra under bright playoff lights]
For Cone, who is in the middle of Gilas Pilipinas’ preparations for the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers 2025, the sum of Northport's individual parts turned them into an elite team in this conference.
“Their import [Kadeem] Jack fills out a lot of what they need in terms of rebounding, rim protection and the ability to score inside,” Cone bared.
The 67-year-old mentor added: “They have elite players on the perimeter. They have Arvin [Tolentino], [Joshua] Munzon down from the guys that can hurt you in the perimeter.”
While being wary of the Batang Pier’s run-and-gun style and ability to play inside-out, Cone welcomes the challenge to find counters and solutions that can help Barangay Ginebra negate NorthPort’s strengths.
“How will we defend Jack? How can we get out of their shooters? How well can we protect the ball? Can we control the tempo? These are questions that we need to find answers to as we go through the series.”
Perhaps added motivation to Ginebra is that NorthPort beat them in the elimination round, on top of owning victories over the powerhouse San Miguel Beermen and the Magnolia Hotshots.
[ALSO READ: Arvin Tolentino echoes NorthPort’s unyielding belief in rare sweep of SMC teams: “Naniniwala lang kami sa isa’t-isa”]
Cone also downplayed the concerns regarding his players doing double duty for Gilas and Ginebra, stressing it’s all part of the sacrifice.
“It’s definitely an issue, but it’s part of the sacrifice that you make for the national game. We have a responsibility to the country, not only in terms of Gilas, but also to the Ginebra fans and management,” the multi-titled coach bared.
He added: “That’s only gonna sharpen their games; make them better.”
[ALSO READ: RJ Abarrientos, Ralph Cu bolster Gilas preps ahead of Doha camp, FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers]
The PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup semifinals will start on February 26.