Tim Cone admits "letdown" by Ginebra after near loss to import-less Magnolia

Barangay Ginebra might have drawn first blood over Magnolia in the semis, but it certainly had to work doubly hard for it—even with Hotshots import Nick Rakocevic missing majority of the second half.

Rakocevic was sent to the dugout early after seemingly tripping Ginebra’s Christian Standhardinger on purpose in the early minutes of the third quarter.  The Magnolia big man was whistled for a flagrant foul 1 for the infraction, but was thrown out as he had already gotten a technical in the first half for resenting a call.

Rather than unravel, the Hotshots banded together, keeping close with the Gin Kings throughout the second half. Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone was not the least surprised, noting how adversity can raise the beleaguered team’s level of play—and cause the team supposedly with the upper hand to relax. That is exactly what happened, according to the Grand Slam-winning coach.

“Historically, it’s always tough to beat a team without an import. When an import leaves a game, it’s either the other team gets frustrated over what happened and lets down… or they lift up. With a good team like Magnolia, they’re gonna lift up their game…,” explained Coach Cone. “The other team, seeing that team without an import, they kind of have a natural letdown. I thought we had it, and I could see it in the first few minutes after he [Rakocevic] left the game.”

Ginebra’s letdown nearly cost it Game 1, as the Hotshots nearly took the lead in the endgame and had several chances to tie. This one-game cushion figures to be massive for the crowd favorites, as Coach Cone expects Rakocevic to play big in Game 2.

“He’ll [Rakocevic] learn. He’s a great player, he’s really a smart player and he’ll figure it out,” Cone pointed out. “He’s gonna come out extra motivated in Game 2, and that’s something we’re gonna have to understand and try to meet that challenge.”

That challenge is only going to make Game 2 even more compelling.