Down 3-1 again to Rain or Shine, Tim Cone sees harder climb for San Mig Coffee

Rey Joble, InterAKTV · Thursday, December 27, 2012 · 9:58 pm

AKTV file/Paolo Papa

Last season, Tim Cone and his squad were trailing 3-1 to Rain or Shine in a best-of-seven series. The team then known as the B-MEG Llamados came back to force a seventh game, where they yielded the Governors’ Cup to the Elasto Painters.
One conference later, Cone and the San Mig Coffee Mixers are in a similar hole against the same team, this time in the Philippine Cup semifinals.
“It will be harder this time,” said Cone, who seemed in no mood to speak discuss in detail his team’s 83-74 loss Thursday.
Rain or Shine dominated San Mig Coffee for the second straight game, leading by 18 points in the third quarter before a late charge by the Mixers cut the lead down.
But the Elasto Painters preserved the victory using hustle and hard work, personified by the game’s best player Ronnie Matias. The 6-foot-3 forward scored just eight points, but six of those came in the fourth quarter when the Mixers were making their rally.
He also had five rebounds, all on the offensive end, usually keeping the ball alive for Rain or Shine to take the air out of San Mig Coffee’s comeback attempt.
Before the series, Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao was concerned about the rebounding battle against the Mixers. In Game Four, the Elasto Painters won the boards, 49-44. They also had 14 steals to San Mig Coffee’s seven.

Post-game walkout no big deal, says San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone

Thursday, December 20, 2012 · 5:44 pm

AKTV/Paolo Papa

Coach Tim Cone leaving the arena in a huff without addressing the San Mig Coffee Mixers after a game is not new to hi players.
The coach downplayed the issue of his post-game walkout moments after San Mig Coffee’s loss in its Philippine Cup series opener to Rain or Shine Wednesday.
“I’ve done that a lot of times and for me, it has never been an issue,” said Cone.
Cone went straight to the parking lot after the final buzzer, a clear sign that he wasn’t satisfied with the way his team performed.
“Obviously, I was displeased with the way my team showed, not the way that I want it to see. But it’s no big deal. I gathered my team today in practice and tried to refocus ourselves for Game Two,” said Cone.
Whatever message Cone was trying to send wasn’t lost on his players, who admitted their lack of effort in Game One.
He expects a better performance from his team in the second game of the best-of-seven series.
“We’re not in the playoff mood yet. Hopefully we get our mood for Game Two,” he said.



http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/post-game-walkout-no-big-deal-says-san-mig-coffee-coach-tim-cone