Tim Cone promises B-MEG will be ready for Ginebra in do-or-die Manila Clasico

AKTV/Paolo Papa

B-MEG coach Tim Cone was disappointed with the Llamados’ effort on Wednesday in a game where they could have booked their finals ticket. But on Twitter, he promised that his team will be ready for its do-or-die Manila Clasico showdown against Barangay Ginebra on Friday.

We weren’t ready tonight. Definitely upsetting. But we’ll be ready Friday. @BMegPlanet

— Tim Cone (@manilacone) July 18, 2012

The Llamados faced the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in a game that decided the first protagonist in the Governors’ Cup finals. B-MEG came out flat, and fell behind by as much as 23 points to allow Rain or Shine to win, 92-82, and book its first championship round berth in franchise history.

The loss resulted in a playoff for the second finals spot between B-MEG and Ginebra, who tied the Llamados for the second spot in the standings with a 73-71 win over Talk ‘N Text.

It will mark the second straight conference wherein the two teams will face off for a spot in the finals. In the Commissioner’s Cup, B-MEG defeated Ginebra, 3-1, in a best-of-five semifinals series before eventually winning the title.

Ginebra is coming into Friday’s showdown as the league’s hottest team, having won four of its five games in the semifinals. Its only loss, however, came at the hands of the Llamados. B-MEG has swept the two teams’ meetings this conference, winning 96-88 on May 27 and 82-70 last Sunday.

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