Gin coach Tim Cone watched Barangay Ginebra succumb to Converge on Sunday, but he felt pleased by the team’s development despite the absence of their key players.
Cone cited that backup players like Jeremiah Gray, Nards Pinto, Von Pessumal, Sidney Onwubere, and Jayson David gained confidence in the PBA on Tour due to added playing time.
“I’m really pleased with the progress, tonight (Sunday) notwithstanding. It was a tough game,” said Cone after the Kings folded against the FiberXers, 123-95.
Cone witnessed the shorthanded Kings for the first time since coming back from the European training camp of Gilas Pilipinas.
It was their second straight defeat, giving Ginebra a 4-5 record.
“The record is not bad,” said Cone, citing that they did not have the benefit of having their star players Scottie Thompson, Jamie Malonzo, and Japeth Aguilar, who are all loaned to the national team. Also absent are veterans Christian Standhardinger and Stanley Pringle, both on leave.
“But we’re not looking at the record. We’re just looking at the growth of the players, and they’re doing great,” he added.
Cone also praised Ginebra’s 3×3 team, consisting of Kim Aurin, Ralph Salcedo, Ralph Cu, Donald Gumaru, and JJ Espanola, for their impressive performance.
“Got to give coach Kirk (Collier) a big hand for that. He’s done a great job on that program. And then Richard (Del Rosario) integrated them to the team, and they really contributed,” said the champion coach.
