Cone hopes long break helps Ginebra regain championship form

Photo courtesy of PBA Images

BARANGAY Ginebra coach Tim Cone is hoping the long break will help his team find its true form and prepare them for the tougher matchups ahead in the PBA 50^th Season Governors’ Cup. 

The Gin Kings are left with questions after falling to Meralco, 97-88, on Friday night as they come into the Fiba/Asian Games break at sixth and last spot in Group B with a 2-4 win-loss record.

“I just told the guys after the game that I was sorry because I just don't feel like I've coached very well over these last six games,” Cone said. “I feel bad for Riley because I just haven't done a good job over these last six games. I'm a little worn out or whatever or distracted, but I need to be better, we need to be better.”

“These have been a tough stretch for us, but we know the better times are coming ahead of us. Again, I just wish I had done better for Riley. He's such a good guy,” he added.

After all, the Gin Kings lost despite a solid response from stand-in import Riley Grigsby, who dropped 34 points, 10 boards, three assists, two blocks, and one steal, without a turnover with less than two minutes of rest. 

Grigsby may have played his final game for Ginebra with resident reinforcement Justin Brownlee poised to return from various injuries after the seven-week layoff, including stints as the Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player in the upcoming Fiba qualifying window and Asian Games.

“We really wanted to play better for him and we didn't, and I wanted to coach better for him and I didn't,” Cone said of Grigsby. We’ve put him in kind of an unfair situation that we didn't play like a championship team these whole six games. So, we got to figure that out.”

“Hopefully this break will get everybody going in the right direction. I can get through the window and the Asian games and really reignite, refocus into Ginebra. That's the plan at this point,” the concurrent national coach added.