PBA: Tim Cone on Alaska's loss to GlobalPort: 'They did what they have to do'

After Alaska's loss to GlobalPort in the first game on Tuesday night, a deflated Star Hotshots played a lackluster first half against Blackwater and saw themselves down by as much as 11 points in the second quarter. San Miguel eventually shook off the Blackwater scare with an 87-82 victory to finish as fifth seed going into the playoffs.

 

The Grand Slam champions could have clinched the fourth berth and the twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals had the Aces won, but their hopes for the best scenario did not materialize as the Batang Pier triumphed in overtime.

 

It was a huge blow for the Hotshots, and it seemed to weigh heavily on their mind as they allowed themselves to be pushed around by the cellar-dweller Elite in the first two quarters of their game.

 

"I think after GlobalPort won, we just kinda lost our energy a little bit and started the game really poorly," Hotshotsl head coach Tim Cone admitted after the game. "We had a really hard time getting ourselves up."

 

Star eventually shook themselves out of it and played better in the second half.

 

Despite missing the top four due to the upset against Alaska, which played without its import Romeo Travis in the second half and fielded its bench through overtime, Cone said he was not about to pin the blame on the Aces.

 

"I really truly believe that they're under no obligation to win a game for anybody except for themselves," said the coach about his former team. "Despite not playing their import, [they] still battled and lost in overtime. If we can ask for anything, that's all we can ask for."

 

Cone said he understood Alaska's reasons for resting their star players and would not hold the loss against them.

 

"I've been there before, to me it's no big deal. They did what they have to do."  — ELR, GMA News