Crucial weekend up for Kings, Cone, before Gilas Pilipinas plunge
Before he takes full attention on starting Gilas Pilipinas’ campaign in the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers on the right track, coach Tim Cone will look to hurdle a busy weekend stretch that could change Barangay Ginebra’s outlook in the PBA Philippine Cup.
First up for the Gin Kings is a huge battle at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Friday against the Converge FiberXers, who hope to finally get a win against a pre-tournament favorite in the all-Filipino tournament.
“They are playing extremely well,” Cone said of the Converge side currently at 4-2 going into the 7:30 p.m. contest.
Following the FiberXers is a matchup on Sunday against the Phoenix Fuel Masters in the league’s first-ever trip to the University of Santo Tomas’ Quadricentennial Pavilion along España Avenue.
Ginebra currently sits at 2-3 after an on-and-off inner half of the eliminations and winning both games will be crucial entering the homestretch.
The Gin Kings are coming off a 104-74 rout of the NLEx Road Warriors last Nov. 2 and they will be coming off a long layoff after a clash with Titan Ultra was called off last Sunday because of Super Typhoon Uwan.
“I think we’ve seen on any given night that any team can beat anybody,” said Cone. “And it’s a matter of preparedness and readiness that’s gonna be key for us moving forward.
“Can we be ready? Can we be prepared for any team because anybody can get you on any given night right now.”
After this stretch, Cone will begin to map out his game plan for Gilas’ two meetings against Guam in the initial window of the World Cup Qualifiers.
Two of his players are slowly going to shift themselves into Gilas mode, like what San Miguel’s CJ Perez and June Mar Fajardo have done after leading the Beermen’s 158-117 shellacking of Titan Ultra at Ynares Center in Rodriguez, Rizal.
Perez had 26 points, a chunk of which came in the second quarter when the Beermen scored 43 to pull away, while Fajardo had a triple-double of 12 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.
Also key was Jericho Cruz with 24 points before he is expected to lead Guam against Gilas at home on Nov. 28, and on Dec. 1 at Blue Eagle Gym inside the Ateneo campus.
Magnolia hopes to shrug off the extended break in Friday’s 5:15 p.m. opener against Blackwater, aiming for a 5-2 slate with a win.
TNT tries to stretch its hold on the solo lead on Saturday, playing Rain or Shine at Aquilino Pimentel Jr. Convention Center in Cagayan de Oro City. TNT totes a 6-1 slate while Rain or Shine is at 5-2.
Sunday’s curtain raiser at UST will see NLEx’s bid to go 6-2 in the standings opposite Titan Ultra.
