GINEBRA SHIFTS FOCUS TO GAME 6 AS CONE LAUDS TEAM'S LATE RALLY

BARANGAY Ginebra found itself in a hole in its PBA 50th Season Philippine Cup semifinals after its loss in Game 5.

The Gin Kings lost, 115-109, as they failed to make it two in a row following a splendid showing in Game 4 where Scottie Thompson had a 35-point triple double.

Head coach Tim Cone admitted his team struggled but lauded their attitude of never backing down until the end after San Miguel’s lead that reached as high as 17 dropped to four in the final seconds.

READ: SMB one win away from PBA Finals after surviving Ginebra comeback

"We were looking for a miracle in the end and we didn’t get one," said Cone. "Got to appreciate the guys for the fight when they fought back in the game."

"We made crucial turnovers all throughout the whole game that we could have made runs. It just wasn’t our night. We were fumbling the ball. Ball wasn’t going in for us. Our guys continued to fight and battle. Just came up short," he continued. 

The Gin Kings are now down, 3-2, in the series that now shifts to Game 6 on Friday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

The last time Ginebra and San Miguel played a Game 6 was in last season’s Philippine Cup where the Gin Kings won on a late three-point shot by now-Magnolia playing coach LA Tenorio.

Needless to say, Cone hopes for the same result.

"Now, we are basically in the same situation we were last conference except that it is flipped. We were up, 3-2. Now they are up, 3-2. They were able to beat us two in a row. We see if we can flip the script and see if we can beat them two in a row," Cone said. 

"We can’t get to Game 7, winner-take-all, unless we take care of Game 6. That’s where our focus is going to be," he added. 

2026-01-14T18:15:08Z