Barangay Ginebra head coach Tim Cone against Titan Ultra in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup. PBA Images.MANILA — Barangay Ginebra San Miguel is the hottest team in the PBA right now, and Tim Cone wants his squad to avoid any letup with the playoffs fast approaching.
READ: Ginebra fends off Titan Ultra to punch quarterfinal ticket
The Gin Kings have won five straight games in the Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup, with the Titan Ultra Giant Risers their latest victims in a 119-107 win on Sunday, and Cone acknowledged that the surge has them headed in the right direction.
“It gives us the chance to control our destiny in our last three games,” said Cone, as they officially booked their return to the quarterfinals — an all-time league-record 50th consecutive playoff berth according to PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon III.
Cone noted that the team’s sense of urgency has fueled its winning streak, adding that refusing to play down to the competition has been their key.
“We made sure that we showed up for our previous games. We’ve seen how many teams upset favored teams, so we did not want to be one of those,” he said.
That same approach will be crucial as Ginebra eyes a twice-to-beat edge in the playoffs, an incentive they can secure by finishing in the top four.
“We have until next Friday, so we’ll try to gear up, as it will decide if we reach the top four or not,” he said.
Ginebra returns to action on Friday, May 1, 7:30 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao against the Meralco Bolts. The Gin Kings will then face the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters on Sunday, also at 7:30 p.m., and still at the Big Dome.
Cone and his wards will wrap up their elimination-round campaign against TNT Tropang 5G on Sunday, May 10, 7:30 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.