ANTIPOLO CITY, Philippines — Tim Cone said Barangay Ginebra San Miguel remains focused on closing out its semifinal series against Rain or Shine Elasto Painters despite holding a 3-2 lead entering Game 6 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Sunday at the Ynares Center.
Ginebra moved within one win of the Finals after a 111-104 victory in Game 5, powered by a 31-point performance from RJ Abarrientos.
Despite the advantage, Cone said past playoff experiences have made him cautious about assuming the series is over.
“We’ve been in this situation a couple of times in a best-of-seven,” Cone said. “We led 3-2 and then got beaten both times.”
Cone referred to Ginebra’s losses after holding 3-2 leads in the 2024 Philippine Cup semifinals against the Meralco Bolts and in the 2024-25 Commissioner’s Cup Finals against TNT Tropang 5G.
The only time Ginebra successfully advanced after taking a 3-2 lead during that stretch was in the 2024 Governors’ Cup semifinals against San Miguel Beermen.
Cone also recalled losing a championship series after leading 3-2 while coaching Alaska in the 2008-09 Philippine Cup Finals against TNT.
Game 6 comes amid heightened tensions between the teams. Recent incidents included verbal exchanges involving Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao and San Miguel Corporation sports director Alfrancis Chua, as well as a postgame confrontation involving Rain or Shine import Jaylen Johnson, Ginebra team manager Reyboy Rodriguez and center Raymond Aguilar.
Abarrientos rebounded from an eight-point outing in Game 4 by shooting 12-of-21 from the field in Game 5. He also recorded eight assists and two steals.
“The coaches told me that I need to work on everything,” Abarrientos said. “Rain or Shine’s just denying me, bumping me all the time. So I just need to work on the things that I need so I can get open and be involved on both offense and defense.”
Game 6 is scheduled to begin at 5:15 p.m., while TNT will attempt to secure a Finals berth in its own semifinal series against Meralco at 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
