Warning: Undefined variable $column_strips in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 78
WE HAVE TO PLAY HARDER – CONE
Warning: Undefined variable $column_strips in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 153
Warning: Undefined variable $nocontent in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 236
Warning: Undefined variable $iscovid in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 239
Warning: Undefined variable $FEAT_STORIES in /var/www/pba/single2017/addfunction-ondemand-gitlab-taboola.php on line 685
Warning: foreach() argument must be of type array|object, bool given in /var/www/pba/single2017/addfunction-ondemand-gitlab-taboola.php on line 688
Warning: Undefined array key 0 in /var/www/pba/single2017/addfunction-ondemand-gitlab-taboola.php on line 730
Fresh from a grand slam finish, Purefoods Star is now in the cellar with a 0-2 card.
Yet coach Tim Cone feels he’s in quite familiar territory.
“It’s a familiar position, but I don’t enjoy being down 0-2,” he said.
Last season, the team also languished at or near the cellar at the start of the conference before stepping on the gas going into the playoffs.
Injuries are to blame for the early setbacks.
Marc Pingris sat out their first two games after his stint with Gilas to rest, while Ian Sangalang suffered a partial ACL tear in their first game of the season against Alaska. Also not helping is James Yap being sidelined in their last game after suffering an injury in his right calf.
Cone explains, “James felt a twitch in his calf on Saturday in practice and he came to the game, but felt the same twitch in his calf and he said he wanted to play and try. We said we’ll see if he can go. He felt good in the beginning but it got worse.”
Coach Tim took responsibility for sitting out his stars to avoid aggravating their injuries.
“It was really my decision. James still wanted to try it out, but my feeling is it’s just early in the season and we can’t afford to send him out there and make it worse, then suddenly lose him for four to six weeks. I decided to hold him out,” he said. “Ping came to practice on Saturday, but he’s been off for three weeks. He’s not in game shape. He wanted to play too, but I said no. He’s scheduled for two games so we’re keeping him scheduled to keep him off for two games. But now, we have four days of practice before our next game, so he should be at par.”
Cone already accepted the loss of Sangalang for the season, saying, “It’s an ACL tear, a partial tear, but a partial tear is the same with a full tear when it comes to ACL. They have to repair that. We’ll be without him.”
Cone hopes that their acquisition of veteran Don Allado will help them in their bid to retain their Philippine Cup title.
“Don is not going to replace the youth of Ian, his ability to score and rebound inside. Ian’s truly a great player. Although people talk about him, I really think he’s a great player,” Cone said. “Don will come out and help us with our execution. He understands the triangle very well, and I think he’ll help the second group execute.”
The two-time Grand Slam coach said that the Hotshots are still having difficulty in reigniting their hunger every game, as he said, “We’re having a hard time remembering how hard you have to play in this league. We kind of floated here and there, we got a little determined more at the end of the third quarter, but I think tonight’s game against San Miguel is a pretty good beginning for us. It’s a good start for us to start on playing better.” (RL)
Warning: Undefined array key "TESTPAGE" in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 254
Warning: Undefined array key "fb" in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 280
Warning: Undefined variable $thinq in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 318
Warning: Undefined variable $var_sports_vlurb in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 328
Warning: Undefined variable $mindanaoQuake2019 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 442
Warning: Undefined variable $showSolicit_batanes in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 459
Warning: Undefined variable $seagames in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 475
Warning: Undefined variable $tokyoOlympics2020 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 481
Warning: Undefined variable $help_taal in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 490
Warning: Undefined variable $help_ompong in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 525
Warning: Undefined variable $elections_2019 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 538
Warning: Undefined variable $typhoon_2018_redirect in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 543
Warning: Undefined variable $ncov2020 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 555
Warning: Undefined variable $tyhoon2020_marthon in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 578
Warning: Undefined variable $dotnet23 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 585
Warning: Undefined variable $suicide in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 595
Warning: Undefined variable $yearend2020 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 600
Warning: Undefined array key "inqplus_test" in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 609
Warning: Undefined array key "newreadnext" in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 664
Warning: Undefined array key "test" in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 802
EDITORS' PICK
Warning: Undefined variable $data_for_HompageFG_obj in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 816
Warning: foreach() argument must be of type array|object, null given in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 819
Warning: Undefined variable $MR_data_for_obj in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 850
Warning: foreach() argument must be of type array|object, null given in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 850
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
Warning: Undefined variable $bc_tag in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 1239