Gin Kings call on same old spirit

MANILA, Philippines — Barangay Ginebra’s never-say-die spirit will be put to the test as the struggling Gin Kings try to climb out of its precarious standing in the 46th PBA Philippine Cup in Bacolor, Pampanga.

The defending champions are sitting in ninth place at 3-5 after losing back-to-back games to San Miguel (102-111) and TNT (67-88) last week, their entry into the quarterfinals in jeopardy.

Now, coach Tim Cone and his embattled charges have to make a quick turnaround against Alaska, Meralco and Phoenix in the final push for the Magic 8.

The Gin Kings will approach their next assignments “no different” than the others.

“We want to keep an even keel – not too high, not too low,” Cone told The STAR.

“We wish we could play those last two games again and do it differently but we can’t. We just have to keep moving forward and find a way to play better,” he added.

Ginebra will avoid being the first All-Filipino kingpin to miss the playoffs in its title defense since Shell back in 2000.