Romwel Anzures

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel head coach Tim Cone vs. TNT Tropang 5G in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup Finals. PBA Images.

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<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781456643712IMG_1189.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Barangay Ginebra San Miguel head coach Tim Cone vs. TNT Tropang 5G in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup Finals. PBA Images.MANILA — With the PBA Finals at a boiling point, the feud has spilled beyond the hardwood as Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone fired back at TNT Tropang 5G’s repeated complaints about officiating.</div>“I’m just getting real tired of the idea that if we win, it’s because we got favors from the referees. And when they win, it’s about great coaching and great play,” said Cone after the Gin Kings fell to TNT, 90-98, in Game 6 of the Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup Finals on Sunday.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/14/pba-mccullough-fires-53-to-power-tnt-past-ginebra-send-finals-to-game-7-2150">READ: McCullough fires 53 to power TNT past Ginebra, sends Finals to Game 7</a></div>“It’s a narrative that’s getting really old, and it’s starting to bother me a little bit,” he added.While Cone did not mention names, <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/13/pba-chot-slams-excellent-officiating-free-throw-discrepancies-anew-1329">TNT head coach Chot Reyes</a> has been vocal about officiating throughout the series, particularly over the “free throw discrepancies” he pointed to after two of the Tropang 5G’s three losses.In Game 6, however, it was TNT that earned more trips to the foul line. The Tropang 5G went 12-of-15 from the stripe, while the Gin Kings shot 9-of-10.And for the winningest coach in league history, the selective outrage over officiating has become puzzling.“It’s unfair. I’ve coached against Ginebra for 27 years. It’s now gotten to a point where it’s gotten crazy. It’s the referees for us, and it’s great coaching and great plays for them,” said Cone.What the former Alaska Milk mentor did not discount, however, was Chris McCullough’s career night, which saw the returning import erupt for 53 points.“I’ll be the first to admit. McCullough was awesome tonight. We couldn’t control him all game long. He made shots from the outside, made a three and a four which broke our backs,” said Cone.Cone also acknowledged that while Justin Brownlee delivered another masterpiece with 52 points, RJ Abarrientos, Scottie Thompson, and the rest of Ginebra’s locals simply failed to show up.“Scottie and RJ were 2-for-18 from the field,” he lamented.Still, Cone remains confident of their chances, saying he trusts his troops to bounce back after shooting a combined 14-of-52 (26.9 percent) from the field, excluding Brownlee’s output.“You’re not gonna see that very often, so we’re gonna feel good about ourselves in Game 7,” he said. “We know we can take this and we’re gonna go for it.”But just before leaving the Araneta Coliseum, Cone had one final message regarding his earlier concerns.“I just hope that if we do win, they don’t turn around and say it’s about the referees again,” he said.The Ginebra-TNT decider is set for Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

“I’m just getting real tired of the idea that if we win, it’s because we got favors from the referees. And when they win, it’s about great coaching and great play,” said Cone. #PBAFinals #PBA50

“I’m just getting real tired of the idea that if we win, it’s because we got favors from the referees. And when they win, it’s about great coaching and great play,” said Cone. #PBAFinals #PBA50

PBA: Tim Cone fires back at TNT’s ‘unfair’ officiating narratives

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PBA: Tim Cone fires back at TNT’s ‘unfair’ officiating narratives

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 15, 2026 01:34 AM PHT

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