Cone says TNT deserves PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup title more than Ginebra

There was an air of frustration surrounding Tim Cone when he emerged from the dugout after Ginebra fell short anew against TNT in a sudden-death Game 7 in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup Finals that went into overtime Friday, March 29.

 Cone's Gin Kings lost to the Tropang Giga for the third time since the Season 47 Governors’ Cup Finals.

 “I’m not the one you’re talking to. It’s the winner you want to talk to. I have nothing to say,” Cone told members of the press after his charges absorbed an 83-87 setback to TNT to hand their rivals the title.

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 “They outplayed us. They deserve it. Game’s over. They made the big plays down the stretch, we didn’t. What else can I say? I mean, they deserve it more than we did.”

According to league chief statistician Fidel Mangonon, Cone had won his last three Game 7s with Ginebra before this one.

 The Gin Kings did put up a gallant stand against the Tropang Giga at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.

Ginebra Gin Kings import Justin Brownlee cannot conjure his magic in the extra period of Game 7 of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup Finals | Photo (c) RM Chua/One Sports

 Down three with 21.2 ticks remaining in regulation, Justin Brownlee launched a three-pointer in the face of Paul Varilla, which gave a semblance of the beloved import's huge trey against Allen Durham in 2016.

 But things just did not go well for Ginebra in the extra period.

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 When asked about Brownlee’s heroics late in the fourth, Cone was not thrilled.

 “I don’t think much about it right now. We lost. I’m not going to be thrilled about anything at this point. I’m not a really good loser, put it this way,” said the winningest coach in the league.

 “Bottom line is we lost. They deserve it. They deserve the celebration.”