But the fact remains that the complexion of the best-of-seven series has completely changed with the Hotdogs needing to stop the bleeding lest they allow the Aces to practically put the wraps on the Samsung PBA Governors Cup crown.
Cone and his Aces try to put Gregorio and his Hotdogs on a hole no team has ever come out to win a championship as they clash in Game Three of their best-of-seven title playoff at 6:30 p.m. tonight at the Araneta Coliseum.
Alaska took a commanding two-game-to-nil lead in the series after surviving a gripping double-overtime duel Tuesday, squeezing out a 106-102 victory. The Aces scored a 79-73 win in Game One Sunday.
The Hotdogs blew a chance to win Game Two, but Gregorio sees some wisdom in the agony of defeat and this keeps him optimistic in their bid to end a long title-drought in the league.
"Our back is against the wall but we’ve proven time and again that we can wake up from a long sleep like what we’re having right now," said Gregorio.
"There are a lot of things in our mind right now, but giving up is not one of them. History dictates that no team has ever come back from a 0-3 deficit but we’re not giving up," the youthful mentor added.
The fiery Alaska mentor wouldn’t argue as he even agreed that Purefoods is still in the thick of the fight for the championship.
"Purefoods is the comeback kid of the conference. Ryan and Purefoods have shown their resiliency throughout the whole conference. Their spirit is really amazing. That’s why even we’re up 2-0, I don’t think we can afford to lower our guard," said Cone.
"I don’t even see no reason why this series couldn’t go a Game Seven," he added.
Gregorio and Cone agreed Game Two could have gone either way and that Alaska enjoyed the breaks at crunchtime.
What could be the biggest break that went Alaska’s way was the ouster on fouls by Kelvin Price in the closing seconds of the fourth quarter.
Sans their defensive and rebounding ace, the Hotdogs crumbled in the end.
Kerby Raymundo suffered a sprained ankle in the first overtime period and thus the Hotdogs will have another player playing wounded as they try to avert a three-game skid tonight.