BARANGAY Ginebra San Miguel needs to get over a hump and start playing better in the quarterfinals of the 50th Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup.
Gin Kings” coach Tim Cone said this after Ginebra overcame the Titan Ultras, 108-105, on Sunday, as the quarterfinals cast was completed in the 50th Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
“Tonight was not our best performance. Hopefully, we’ve saved it for the first game of the playoffs,” said Cone, after the Gin Kings finished the eliminations as the fifth seed with a 7-4 win-loss record.
Stephen Holt led the way with 27 points, while RJ Abarrientos fired 24 for the Gin Kings, in their game with the Titans.
Down by 13 points, 42-55, at halftime, the Kings erupted with a 31-point barrage in the third period to move ahead, 92-82, in the final quarter.
The Gin Kings will face the Converge Fiber Xers, which have a twice-to-beat incentive against them on Wednesday.
The Fiber Xers ended the elims with the same card with the Gin Kings, but they became one of the four seeded teams with a twice-to-beat advantage.
“As far as we’re concerned, we just got one game to play (against them). So, we’re just locked on that game,” added Cone.
In the playoffs, the top-seeded San Miguel Beermen will go up against the no. 8 NLEX Road Warriors, while second-ranked Rain or Shine Elasto Painters will meet the no. 7 Meralco Bolts.
In another other matchup, the third seed TNT Tropang 5G is paired with the no. 6 Magnolia Hotshots.
The Gin Kings are seeking to bounce back from their setback to the Fiber Xers during the prelims where they took a 106-96 setback.
Cone admitted that Gin Kings were also having their off-night when they took on the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in Bahrain.
