The team also got into a 0-3 hole once, but it managed to make a series out of it.
That’s the reason why Cone, despite facing the grim scenario of losing four straight games in a title series, remains upbeat of turning their faltering fortunes around and still win the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup.
After all, the team lost each of the last two games by a single point and the first game by four, 81-77. Overall, that’s losing by an average of two points which could easily mean that had the gods of basketball been kinder, they should be 3-0 and not 0-3.
For sure, Alaska’s 79-78 loss in Game 3 and their 86-85 defeat in Game 2 could have a devastating effect on the morale of the team. But they could also be rallying points. And because of this, Cone believes the war is far from over.
“I’ll tip my cap and I’ll be ready to sing Purefoods praises when the series is over,” Cone said.
“But it’s certainly not over yet,” he added.
In Alaska’s rich history, only once did the Wilfred Uytengsu-owned franchise fall to a 0-3 hole – against Gordon’s Gin in 1997 Commissioner’s Cup. They won the next two games before losing to the Robert Jaworski-mentored squad in Game 6.
The Aces, the top ranked team in the semifinals when they took an outright slot, actually swept their opponent, the Ginebra Kings, in the Final Four and were heavily-favored against the Giants, who won in six games against sister-team, the San Miguel Beermen.
“Were supposed to be the fresh team, they’re supposed to be the tired team. (But) I don’t think we look tired,” Cone said.
“I don’t think it’s coming down to energy. It’s coming down to their ability to defend and execute. They’re taking us away from our execution, it’s the same thing they did against San Miguel Beer and we are falling in the same trap,” he added.
After averaging 95.6 points in the classification phase (third-best in the league), Alaska has been limited to 80 points per game in the Finals, struggling against Purefoods’ lockdown defense.
In a move that surprised almost everybody, Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio allowed 6-foot-5 Marc Pingris and 6-foot-6 rookie Rico Maierhofer to guard Alaska’s playmaker LA Tenorio.
In one stretch, he also ordered the 6-foot-5 Niño Cañaleta to hound former two-time MVP Willie Miller. Normally, it was the job for either James Yap or Roger Yap.
The tactic has been working brilliantly.
“Our defense held up (in Game 3),” Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio said.
“I always look at Tim Cone as the best coach in the league. I don’t have a reason to be happy, it takes four wins to win the series. We have to come up with the same kind of energy, the same willingness to wrap it up.”
“We don’t want to give them a chance, the air to breath. It’s still defense which will definitely dictate and set the tone in Game 4,” Gregorio added.
Games on Wednesday (Araneta Coliseum)
4:45 p.m. — PWBL
7 p.m. — Alaska vs Purefoods
Source: Waylon Galvez | Manila Bulletin
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