Greg Slaughter, Tim Cone say Ginebra should continue using size advantage vs TNT

October 4, 2017 - 3:40 PM
5813
PBA Media Bureau

TNT’s speed wasn’t a problem after all for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.

The Gin Kings asserted their might with their imposing size advantage against the KaTropa en route to a dominant 121-94 victory in Game One of their Oppo PBA Governors’ Cup semifinal series.

“We’ve got to use our advantages, making play our guy rather than playing theirs. Try to control the tempo, being a big team, we’ve got to play more to our tempo,” said Greg Slaughter who finished with 16 points, seven rebounds and four blocks in the wire-to-wire win.

Slaughter added that their defensive mentality enabled his team to take the headstart.

“I think we came out aggressive on the defensive end. It’s just one game so we have to focus on the next one. I’m not trying to think too far ahead. I just one to think one game at a time. We know Talk N Text is a very dangerous team. We played good defense on them now. We don’t want them to score 120 on us. We just have to stay aggressive on defense, maintain our defensive intensity, keep on executing our offense,” added Slaughter.

Head coach Tim Cone said Ginebra’s gameplan was to pound their smaller rivals inside.

“We did what we have to do – get the ball to Greg and Japeth inside – as well as Joe (Devance) and Justin (Brownlee) and we defended well. We were very aggressive defensively,” he said.

Cone said he expects TNT to counter their strategy in Game Two slated on Wednesday in Batangas City.

“We’re expecting a completely different game here in Batangas City. We were as surprised as anyone in how Game 1 played out. We just have to realize that what we did in Game 1 won’t be enough in Game 2. We have to continue to lift our game and get better,” Cone said.

“They beat us up in the elims and we got them in Game 1, which means Game 2 is pretty exciting and real tight. That’s what usually follows. But they will get their legs back on Wednesday.”