26 AND COUNTING: Cone still craving for more PBA success
Cone built his reputation by turning a young Alaska franchise into one of the league’s most successful clubs when he took over in 1989.
Daily TribuneCone built his reputation by turning a young Alaska franchise into one of the league’s most successful clubs when he took over in 1989.
BARANGAY Ginebra coach Tim Cone owes his success to his wife, Cristina, who has been supporting him since he was a young coach at Alaska in 1989.
Twenty-six.
Decorated Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) coach Tim Cone, at 68, continues to build his image as local basketball’s greatest-of-all-time tactician.
The number of championships under his name at 26 — and counting — almost doubled the collection of the coach nearest his mark.
A peerless strategist on the battlefield of Asia’s first-ever play-for-pay basketball league, Cone has established dynasties on his watch.
Alaska, the Purefoods franchise and Barangay Ginebra all thrived under the capable hands and mind of Cone.
Although it took three years for the blue-eyed American mentor to bag his eighth title with the Kings, it was a championship worth the wait.
Ginebra ended a seven-conference championship drought by dethroning last year’s finals tormentor, TNT, in an exciting seven-game series to reign supreme in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup.
“Well, I think people ask me about the championships, they always ask me what’s my favorite championship and my stock answer, what I always answer is, the next one, the next one is going to be my favorite,” he said.
Cone, whose signature “triangle offense” never failed to bring him success since the 90s, is not yet done as he tries to end the league’s half-century mark season with another one in the upcoming Governors’ Cup.
“So, you know, it’s all about moving on, moving forward and going forward, and this never gets old,” the five-time PBA Coach of the Year added.
Cone built his reputation by turning a young Alaska franchise into one of the league’s most successful clubs when he took over in 1989.
He would win his first title two years later in the 1991 Third Conference. Cone would eventually win 12 more championships including a grand slam in 1996 with players like Jojo Lastimosa, Johnny Abarrientos, Bong Hawkins and import Sean Chambers.
He brought his golden touch to the Purefoods franchise — which carried the names B-Meg Llamados, San Mig Coffee and Star Hotshots — in his transfer in 2011.
Cone collected five crowns, including a second grand slam in the 2013-2014 season, becoming the first coach in the league to accomplish the feat, in four years with the club before being tapped to steer the Ginebra ship in 2015.
He lifted the Ginebra curse by ending an eight-year titleless run in the 2016 Governors’ Cup.
It would be the start of the Kings’ renaissance.
For Cone, the thrill of winning never wavered decades into his career.
“So, you know, there’s still that excitement, there’s still that, you know, bad stomach and bad sleep and that’s all part of it,” Cone said.
Winning a championship is a whole new experience each time.
“It’s not getting old, you know, it’s not like just another Game 7, no, never like that, it’s special, each one of them and they’re getting more and more special the older I get, because I know that it’s not an infinite number anymore.”
Cone also acknowledges that Father Time is not on his side.
So, Cone is not taking for granted each game, wins and losses, the daily grind, the crowd, everything in the PBA while still calling the shots at the sideline.
“Before, when I was, you know, 25, 35, 40, you know, didn’t think about the end, but I think about the end more often these days,” he said.
