Black says crowd factor won't matter

MANILA -- Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone refused to predict how their best-of-seven PBA Governors’ Cup finals against Meralco would go.

This is because he believes both teams are evenly matched.

“I think we mirror each other on how we play. We’re both top two in assists, we’re both defensive-oriented, we make multiple passes, we’re patient and I think the two teams play very very similar,” Cone told FOX Sports Asia.

The Gin Kings barged to the finals for the first time in three years after outplaying their sister team, the San Miguel Beermen, in five games during their semifinals clash.

The Bolts, on the other hand, did the unthinkable as they closed out top-seeded TNT KaTropa in just four games.

Ginebra is obviously the crowd favorite and throngs of Ginebra fans are expected to fill in Araneta Coliseum when the finals kick off on Friday.

“Fortunately, their crowd doesn’t play in the court so I’m not too concerned about that,” Meralco coach Norman Black said in a separate FOX Sports Asia report.

“I’ve been in the league for a long time, and I already got used to the chant GI-NE-BRA. Sometimes it’s swirling on my head.”

“We’re more concerned on LA Tenorio, or Mark Caguioa, and Japeth Aguilar, and all the other guys on the other side,” he added.

Cone said the series will be so tough that it’s going to be a war of strategy and adjustments.

“Nobody wants to hear this, but the whole truth, it’s in the saying is, ‘it’s gonna be one game at a time,’” he said. “We’ll figure out how the long series is when it’s all over.

Game time between the two teams is at 7 p.m.

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