Tim Cone had little to say about the opportunity his team lost. He was very clear, however, where they lost it.

Barangay Ginebra’s veteran coach watched in silence as San Miguel Beer celebrated its Game 7 triumph Wednesday night at Araneta Coliseum, ending the Gin Kings’ PBA Philippine Cup campaign.

“I don’t really have any thoughts at this point,” Cone admitted. “We played a terrible fourth quarter. We played terrible down the stretch.”

Ginebra had led by as much as 11 but faltered late, allowing San Miguel to trim the deficit to 73-66 heading into the final frame. By then, Cone already sensed trouble.

“We really lost the game at the end of the third when we gave them back their momentum,” he said.

Chris Ross pounced, anchoring a patented Beermen fourth-quarter run that sealed their ticket to a third straight Finals appearance. Cone, ever gracious in defeat, tipped his hat to Leo Austria’s squad.

“You have to give credit to coach Leo. He went to his veterans—he went to Chris Ross,” Cone said. “June Mar [Fajardo] played 42 minutes on one leg. Sometimes, you just have to tip your cap. They came out and played.”

San Miguel’s experience showed in the clutch, while Ginebra, aiming for a third straight Finals appearance, came apart in the game’s most crucial stretch.

Ginebra coach Tim Cone after losing to San Miguel in seven games. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/74uQnFUiOF

— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) July 9, 2025

“I feel terrible,” Cone said. “But that’s how it goes.”

As Ginebra licks its wounds, the Beermen move forward, eyeing yet another crown—while TNT remains in contention for a rare Grand Slam. The two flagship franchises have a shared history when it comes to Grand Slams.

In 2011, San Miguel (then known as Petron), halted TNT (Talk ’N Text) in seven games of what was the season-ending Governors’ Cup title series. The San Miguel Corporation club thwarted what would have been a triple-crown feat by the MVP Group-owned team.