Cone "relieved" that Ginebra clinches "the hardest series to win"

Japeth Aguilar helped Ginebra emphatically clinch what his coach thinks is "the hardest series to win." PBA Media Bureau

By Ivan Saldajeno

QUEZON CITY--For Coach Tim Cone, if there is one playoff series that could make or break a team's path to a PBA title, that would be the quarterfinals.

"For me, it's the hardest series to win," Cone said.

He then explained, "There's just so much pressure in you to make the semis all the time, so it really feels hard."

For the winningest PBA coach championship-wise holding 20 pennants to his name, making past the quarterfinals is already a breakthrough for him.

"When we finally get through it, it's just truly a relief," continued Cone, whose Ginebra squad swept Rain Or Shine in the quarterfinals.

[Related Story: Ginebra eliminates ROS, sets up semis date with SMB]

Now, Cone, with his focus on potentially his 33rd finals appearance, will set his sights on San Miguel as their best-of-seven semifinals begin this weekend.

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