PBA Finals: Cone warns Cardona of taunting

MANILA, Philippines – Talk ‘N Text, specifically Mac-Mac Cardona, better beware. Alaska coach Tim Cone isn’t taking the KFC Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup Finals sitting down in the light of the Aces’ 99-94 loss Sunday night against the Tropang Texters that sent the best-of-seven title series to a do-or-die encounter. The American mentor bewailed the taunting and trash talking Cardona made during the championship showdown, especially the one he did against LA Tenorio in Game Six, issuing a terrifying warning that the Talk ‘N Text guard-forward will end up hurt if he does it again. Cone went to the extreme point of saying that he would ‘order’ his players to ‘put Cardona on the floor’ once any of his players gets embarrassed by Cardona’s actions as a way of sending a loud message. “If Cardona taunts any of our players again I’m going to order that he be put out on the floor. He’s going to hit the floor with his head next time," said Cone during the post-game interview. “He’s done it I think three times or four times in this series and he’s been only warned once. I tell you that start fights and I’m not going to have my players back down. I tell you I’m not going to let my players take that. “So either the referees have to be more attentive or it’s going to get ugly out there." The former La Salle standout completed a critical three-point play in the last 1:36 seconds in Game Six, turning cold Alaska’s hot comeback and stretching the Tropang Texters’ lead to 94-87. That key play happened underneath the basket, with Cardona driving along the baseline and getting fouled hard by Tenorio. As the ball went in and the whistle was blown, Cardona jumped up and down and screamed right in the face of the Alaska point guard. “You play the game the right way. You don’t trash-talk, you don’t taunt, you don’t try to make people look bad, and you don’t dunk out on somebody when you’ve got a big lead in the last couple of seconds of a basketball game. You play the game the right way. That’s not part of the game," said Cone. Cardona, who ended up with a game-high 23 points in Game Six, said that his actions have been a part of himself since his college days, and his reaction after that basket was just normal for someone who made a very crucial basket. He even added that if that’s the case, then Cone’s warning could end up as a booster. “Ganun talaga ako nung college pa," said Cardona. “I made a key basket in a key game for us kaya ganun ang reaction ko. Malamang, galit siya sa team niya tapos dina-divert niya sa akin. Motivation sa akin yan, lalo akong macha-challenge." TNT coach Chot Reyes, on the other hand, said that Cone ‘has to do what he has to do.’ – GMANews.TV