WATCH: Brgy. Ginebra vs TNT Game Highlights [Season 47 Comm’s Cup | Nov. 20, 2022]

Brgy. Ginebra escaped blushes versus an import-less but fierce-fighting TNT side.

And coming with the Kings’ tough escape act was an outright passage into the PBA Commissioner’s Cup playoffs.

“You named me as the winning coach, but I felt I was totally outcoached. They lost Jayson (Castro), they lost Mikey (Williams) a bit and they played with no import. They were dropping like flies but they kept coming at us. It was a well-coached game and I scrambled to keep up,” said coach Tim Cone, relieved they were able to get past the Tropang Giga and thus stayed in strong contention for a Top 2 finish.

Cone threw much superlatives on the coaching job put up by his TNT counterpart Chot Reyes, and said “we’re lucky to walk out with the win.”

But a win is a win, and this one allowed the Kings to chalk up a first-ever five-game run under coach Cone.

More importantly, their 7-2 record guaranteed Cone and his troops a playoff berth along with early qualifiers

Bay Area (9-2), Magnolia (8-2) and Converge (8-3).