Tim Cone stays upbeat despite Barangay Ginebra’s loss to San Miguel on Easter Sunday

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup continues to test the early-season form of powerhouse Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, as the Gin Kings stumbled to another tough loss—this time against their long-time rivals, the San Miguel Beermen—on Easter Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

In a tightly contested battle that lived up to the rivalry’s billing, Ginebra absorbed an 82-85 defeat, continuing what has been an uncharacteristically slow and inconsistent start to their Commissioner’s Cup campaign. Despite flashes of strong execution and control for much of the game, the Gin Kings ultimately faltered in the closing moments, allowing the Beermen to snatch the win late.

Leading the charge for Ginebra was resident import Justin Brownlee, who once again delivered a standout performance. The veteran forward poured in a game-high 31 points while adding three rebounds and three assists, logging heavy minutes and serving as the focal point of the team’s offense throughout the contest.

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However, Brownlee’s impressive stat line could not fully mask Ginebra’s late-game struggles. In a cruel twist, the prolific scorer missed three crucial free throws down the stretch—misses that proved costly in a game ultimately decided by just three points.

What made the loss even more frustrating for Ginebra was the fact that they had been in firm control earlier in the game. The Gin Kings built a commanding 15-point lead at one stage and, statistically, even outperformed San Miguel in several key areas. Ginebra shot 38 percent from the field compared to the Beermen’s 35.2 percent clip, and consistently found quality looks within their offensive sets.

The difference, however, came from the charity stripe. Ginebra struggled mightily with their free-throw shooting, converting just 60 percent of their attempts, while San Miguel capitalized on their opportunities with a highly efficient 90 percent conversion rate. In a game of such fine margins, those missed points loomed large.

Coach Tim Cone believes there were silver linings despite Barangay Ginebra’s 85-82 loss to San Miguel Beer. Ginebra now 2-2 in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup | @jonasterradoINQ pic.twitter.com/fLDrtoVckh

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Despite the disappointing result, head coach Tim Cone chose to focus on the positives rather than dwell on the defeat. Speaking in the postgame press conference, the veteran tactician emphasized that the team executed much of their game plan effectively.

“I thought we did a good job in many areas of the game, we did what we wanted to do, and sometimes you do everything you’re supposed to do, and you’ll come out short against a team like this,” Cone said.

Cone also acknowledged San Miguel’s defensive effort while pointing out that Ginebra generated good scoring opportunities despite not shooting at an elite level.

“I thought we had a good game, I thought we played well. I didn’t think we shot the ball particularly well, but we were also getting good shots. Credit to the Beermen for their defensive side,” he added.

For Cone, the narrow loss serves more as a learning experience than a cause for alarm. The multi-time champion coach remains confident that if Ginebra continues to perform at this level, results will eventually follow.

“We came up with one big shot, missed some free throws down the stretch, and they hit the big shot down the stretch. But overall, I’m pleased with the way we played, and if we keep playing like this we’re going to compete for the championship.

“We’re not going to hang our heads too low right now. I thought we played well, just not well enough. But we can play better,” Cone concluded.

As the Commissioner’s Cup progresses, consistency will be key for Ginebra as they look to regain their footing and reassert themselves as title contenders. With the talent and experience on their roster, the Gin Kings remain a dangerous squad—but they will need to clean up late-game execution and capitalize on scoring opportunities if they hope to turn close losses into victories.

All eyes will now be on their next assignment, as Barangay Ginebra looks to bounce back against the Magnolia Hotshots on Friday, April 10, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

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