After an explosive performance for Barangay Ginebra in Game 1 of their PBA Governors’ Cup semis series vs San Miguel on Wednesday, Stephen Holt is “really starting to latch” to the Gin Kings’ system, head coach Tim Cone said.

In their Game 1 122-105 victory over the San Miguel Beermen, Holt finished with 30 points, eight rebounds and four assists.

The guard, who joined the team via trade in the offseason, shot an efficient 11-of-18 from the field, including 6-of-7 from the free throw line.

He finished second in scoring behind import Justin Brownlee, who had 33.

After the game, Cone said that he thinks the Rookie of the Year is “really starting to latch on to the system and what we do.”

“I think in the beginning it was a little bit difficult for him, trying to find his place in what we were doing, especially from the offensive side,” he said.

“I thought he got kinda lost offensively early in the conference, it took him a while to figure out where and how he can be aggressive within the system that we run and he’s now finding that I think a little bit more,” he added.

Holt’s offensive game is a huge boost for Ginebra and Holt, who was described by Cone as the “one of the top, if not the best defensive player in the league.”

“I mean his defense has been lights out ever since we got him. I mean he’s gotta be one of the top, if not the best defensive player in the league right now. And he can play and guard anybody. He can guard imports, he can guard the really good, the Bolicks and guys like that as well. He’s very versatile in his defense and he works on it so hard,” the coach said.

“So, he’s starting to use all of his game and his ability, get to the rim, his ability to shoot threes, his pull-up game. He’s got a lot to give and he’s just trying to discover how to use all those weapons within what we do,” he added.

Holt, for his part, said that he is happy with the way the Gin Kings played, especially since they had a lengthy rest after sweeping the Meralco Bolts in the quarterfinals. “It’s a new set of basketball, new pressure. I’m very happy with the way we responded in Game 1, especially coming off the rest and that was very important for us to come out with the energy that we did,” the 32-year-old guard said.

“Both ends of the floor, just trying to execute the game plan as much as we could.”

Ginebra will try to go up 2-0 in their best-of-seven series on Friday, 7:30 p.m., at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.