Cone not losing sleep over final tiff

MANILA, Philippines — Coach Tim Cone had been to close to a dozen Game 7s that he’s not going to lose sleep on this one.

He can’t afford to lose sleep as his Ginebra Kings head to tonight’s final showdown with Meralco for the PBA Governors Cup crown.

It’s the final game of the series, the last game of the season.

Cone emerged from yesterday’s closed-door practice at The Upper Deck, and talked about his team’s readiness for the mother of all battles.

The American mentor had been there before. He said on the eve of the game he’s not planning to lose sleep on this one.

“I’m a pretty good sleeper. I have to admit it. I’m a good sleeper,” said Cone, the PBA coach with the most number of titles at 19.

He’d been to 10 Game 7s, winning six of them.

“One thing we’ve impressed upon our team is we have to keep our sleep. It’s easy to get irritable when you’re sleepy. I can’t afford not to get my sleep,” he said.

Yesterday’s Ginebra practice, which started before 1 p.m, ended after close to three hours. It looked like a closed-door session because the security guard was there to ward off any stranger.

“Somebody closed it but it wasn’t me. It’s not just my practice. I don’t care. But we just had more of a video session. We’re just trying to get ready,” said Cone when asked if he ordered the doors closed.

The biggest game of the year is up ahead, and everybody in the Ginebra camp knows it.