Tim Cone refuses to engage in word war: ‘I have great respect for Coach Yeng’

AKTV/Paolo Papa

Since the start of the Governors’ Cup finals, Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao has been on a verbal offensive, taking several shots at his B-MEG counterpart, Tim Cone.

The American coach, however, wouldn’t take the bait.

“I have great respect for Coach Yeng,” Cone told InterAKTV on Thursday. “I just have to try to get my guys ready to meet their intensity.”

Guiao has criticized Cone after Game Two for complaining about officiating, saying the Llamados coach was making excuses for his team’s poor performance. Guiao also accused Cone of asking for help from the referees.

After B-MEG’s 85-80 victory in Game Two, Guiao took another dig at Cone.

“Tim Cone asked the help of the referees and he got a lot of help tonight,” said Guiao after the game, adding that unlike his rival, he won’t make excuses for his team’s loss.

The tone was much different from prior to the start of the series, when the two coaches expressed their mutual admiration and respect for each other.

Cone said he refused to get into a word war with Guiao.

“This game will be decided between the lines by the players, not the coaches in the newspapers,” he said.

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