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[av_heading heading=’ Kings guns for 3-0 as Bolts work to survive in Govs’ Cup finals ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Wednesday, October 18, 2017
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MANILA – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings aims to extend its lead further as Meralco Bolts switches to survival mode in Game 3 of the PBA Governors’ Cup finals tonight at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Kings head coach Tim Cone said his team cannot relax despite their 2-0 lead heading into the 7 o’clock match since Bolts has the tools to turn the series around.
“Meralco still have a lot of punches to throw at us,” said Cone. “We beat them two in a row but they can certainly come back and beat us two in a row and tie this championship series.”
“It’s always nice to get an early lead but we just can’t get too happy or pleased with ourselves because there’s just so much more work left to do,” Cone added. “A 2-0 lead doesn’t guarantee anything.”
A 19-time PBA champion coach, Cone expects a different Meralco tonight after the two-day break that allowed them to rest and adjust.
“That extra day break in a series is really valuable to the teams because they get a chance to refresh, and they come out and play a lot better and a lot harder,” Cone said. “We expect Meralco’s gonna come out with full punches in Game 3.”
For his part, Meralco mentor Norman Black said Game 3 will be like a virtual do-or-die game for them.
Another loss to the defending champion will make it hard for them to avenge their championship loss last year, Black said.
“We know what it’s like to be down 0-2. Most of the teams that were down 2-0 were not able to bounce back and win the championships. But were still alive. Until they won four games, we’ll be out there fighting,” he said.
Black hopes his local crew will step up offensively to support Best Import of the Conference Allen Durham to avoid falling into a 0-3 hole in the race-to-four series.
“I’m sure my players are trying their best, giving their best. But they’re not performing right now at a level they performed in the elimination round. I could imagine Ginebra had a lot to do with that,” he said./PN
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