AS frustrating the loss was to Meralco, Barangay Ginebra couldn't delve much on the setback as the defending PBA Governors' Cup champion has a tough week coming ahead.
While looking back with regret the Kings' 101-95 defeat at the hands of the Bolts, coach Tim Cone is already on a move forward mode on the team's next two games opposite giants TNT Tropang Giga and San Miguel Beermen.
The Kings tackle the Tropang Giga on Friday and then face the Beermen on Sunday.
"We don't have much time to worry about this game (Meralco). Just move forward and get set for the next time," said Cone. "We got a tough schedule, we got TNT and SMB."
The Kings suffered a second straight loss after similarly going down to rival Magnolia last Christmas Day, 117-94, before the conference went on a temporary break with the sudden rise in COVID-19 cases.
The reigning champions are currently tied at fifth to seventh place together with Alaska and San Miguel, all with identical 3-2 records.
It would have been better had the Kings won over the Bolts going to their highly-anticipated showdown against the Tropang Giga and the Beermen, respectively.
"We were really good, and then clashed at the times when we're really bad," said Cone, whose team actually still led, 89-87, at the 5:22 mark of the fourth following a three-pointer by import Justin Brownlee.
But the Bolts scored nine straight unanswered points to wrest the upperhand for good, 96-89, in the final 2:40.
"The bad came out in the last six, eight minutes of the game. We just didn't play very well," Cone admitted. "We rushed, we got beat defensively in ways we shouldn't have gotten beat."
Again, it's move on for the PBA's winningest coach.
"You know, we'll keep pushing," said Cone. "Like I said, this one will go out, and focus on TNT and San Miguel." (RG) (PBA)