Few can predict how the PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals will go after the Bay Area Dragons snagged Game 2 over the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings. However, Tim Cone is sure about one thing regarding Brian Goorjian.
He knows how to influence the game from the press room.
Game 2’s final score was similar to how the previous one ended, which surprised some OKBET fans and dampened spirits in the Ginebra locker room. The most accomplished coach in PBA history had choice words about the Bay Area coach during the post-game presser.
“Their coach, coach Brian did a good job of selling to the press, selling to you guys, and everybody else about the calls from the last game,” Cone told the media who were present in the presser. “Did a great job of selling it.”
This jab was a nod at the American-Australian’s press conference on Christmas, where he stressed the number of no-calls his team was getting during the opener. The 65-year-old Cone believes that the ratio of free-throw attempts both squads got (Ginebra’s five attempts pale compared to Bay Area’s 21) shows how successful Goorjian’s tactic was.
However, Goorjian rebuked the claim by praising his team’s post-Game 1 adjustments. He commended his players for their strict defensive discipline, allowing the Gin Kings little time to shoot from the free-throw line.
Tim Cone Concedes Confidence Cost Them the Game
Aside from the questionable calls, Tim Cone believes that the Dragons wanted it more than the Gin Kings. He shared that their opponents did just enough to disrupt their offensive flow while his team let their guard down after a convincing win in the previous game.
Andrew Nicholson put on a show for Bay Area, finishing with 30 points, 15 rebounds, and two blocks. Zhu Songwei was also unguardable with his 25 points, five rebounds, and six assists while shooting three-of-six from the field.
Meanwhile, Justin Brownlee was the only bright spot in an otherwise lackluster Ginebra team. He scored 32 points and snagged 11 rebounds while making half his 14 three-point attempts. L.A. Tenorio and Christian Stanhardinger, Ginebra’s stars in Game 1, were limited to single-digit points.
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