Ginebra intends to make the most of the Holy Week by practicing with an Easter PBA Governors' Cup Finals opener coming up. PBA Images |
MANILA—With the PBA giving way to the Holy Week, Ginebra and TNT both get a long break before they collide for the PBA Governors' Cup title beginning on Easter Sunday.
However, Gin Kings chief tactician Tim Cone believes missing basketball for one full week could be a boon or bane moment.
"A long break poses its own problems. It's not simple," Cone said.
With Ginebra sweeping its best-of-five semifinal series against San Miguel, the PBA's perennial crowd darling gets the luxury of having a longer rest than TNT, which needed to depose Meralco in four games.
However, for Cone, the extra two days off must be taken seriously too.
"You have to be careful, and you don't just do a waiting game for the first game to start. You've got to take each day as it comes and make sure you're preparing each day and putting the work in. It's really easy to slip," he further said. "In 10 days, it's easy to lose that momentum and rhythm."
While TNT coach Jojo Lastimosa agrees with his former mentor, he believes that Ginebra has the advantage in terms of having "fresh legs".
"I think the advantage that they have is they could actually rest some players," Lastimosa said. "Believe it or not, the extra rest days for them are going to help them eventually."
According to Cone, though, there will still be work for the Gin Kings during the holidays.
"For us, that's a no-brainer. We'll be practicing even on Good Friday," Cone said.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno