Ginebra Gin Kings coach Tim Cone looks forward to Stephen Holt and NorthPort Batang Pier Arvin Tolentino's Game 2 faceoff in the PBA Comm's Cup semifinals.
Ginebra dealt NorthPort a heavy beating in Game 1 of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup semis, coasting to a 115-93 victory as it successfully limited Batang Pier star Arvin Tolentino Wednesday night, Feb. 26.
Gin Kings coach Tim Cone had Stephen Holt to thank as his ward did his job defensively against the top Best Player of the Conference candidate.
Tolentino coughed up just eight points on a measly 2-for-11 shooting in more than 34 minutes on the floor for NorthPort. He also managed to chip in six rebounds and two assists in a subpar performance.
"It was just a real collective defensive effort tonight. Stephen did a really great job against Arvin," said Cone.
While Cone along with his Gin King charges Scottie Thompson, Jamie Malonzo, Japeth Aguilar, Justin Brownlee and Troy Rosario were busy fulfilling their Gilas duties in the last two weeks, the multi-titled tactician could only appreciate the effort of his deputies in keeping the remaining players in tiptop shape for the PBA semifinals.
"I thought coach Olsen (Racela) and coach Kirk Collier did such a fantastic job with the guys over the last two weeks, preparing them. They had a practice game against a Korean team. And I felt like I walked into practice and RJ (Abarrientos), Stephen (Holt) and everybody was just really gearing to go," said Cone.
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Cone praised the likes of Holt, RJ Abarrientos and the rest of the remaining Gin Kings in lightening the load on Brownlee, Aguilar and Thompson who have just finished their latest campaign for Gilas in the third window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers in New Zealand last Sunday, Feb. 23.
"So that was important for us because we didn't want to overplay Justin, Japeth and Scottie. So the fact that they were able to stay sharp like that and give those guys a break was really important," said Cone.
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Abarrientos dropped 15 points, seven in the pivotal third where Ginebra dropped a 32-14 bomb to fashion out the one-sided victory. The prized rookie also tallied six rebounds and seven assists.
Holt, meanwhile, supplied seven points, four rebounds, four assists and a steal.
Ginebra does not allow NorthPort's Arvin Tolentino to be his usual explosive self in Game 1 of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup semifinals Wednesday, Feb. 26. | Photo (c) PBA Images
The Gilas players still did their share, though, as they showed no signs of fatigue.
Brownlee still topscored with 19 points he laced with four rebounds, four assists and a steal; Aguilar came through with 11 points, seven rebounds, two assists and four blocks; while Scottie Thompson chipped in six points, four rebounds and four assists.
The trio had the luxury of sitting out the fourth with Ginebra already comfortably up, 88-65, heading into the final frame.
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Malonzo also logged double digits with his 14 points. He also had five rebounds and two assists.
Rosario, who joined the Nationals in Doha and the Asia Cup qualifiers but did not play due to his knee injury, made up for that with his 16-point, eight-rebound and three-assist output that made him the Player of the Game.
Game 2 is set on Friday, Feb. 27, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Cone is excited for the second installment of Holt and Tolentino's faceoff in the best-of-seven contest.
"I think that's going to be a really fun marquee matchup the rest of the series, in the next [six] games: how those two guys (Holt and Tolentino) will really battle each other," said Cone.
"I thought Stephen won it tonight. And that was Stephen's night. We'll see what Game 2 brings," he added.
Match is at 5 p.m.