Cone realizes dream

Coaching Gilas Pilipinas didn’t only give Tim Cone an opportunity to compete in the international arena anew.

It also gave him a chance to coach a player he has been eyeing for the past 11 years — Jayson Castro.

The noted American mentor admitted that handling a player as talented as Castro is a dream-come-true, especially in an international game like the upcoming 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

In fact, he almost drafted Castro in 2008, but former TNT KaTropa mentor Chot Reyes plucked him using a pick from San Miguel Beer.

Cone, instead, tapped Sol Mercado with the fifth overall pick before shipping him to Rain or Shine for Eddie Laure and Joe Devance, a shoot-shooting big man who perfectly fits Cone’s vaunted Triangle Offense.

Now, Cone and Castro get a chance to unite for the first — and probably the last — time in the international arena.

“I’m just honored that he is here. I’m truly honored. I’m excited to coach him because I never had the chance to coach him before,” said Cone in admiration to the heady point guard.

“I almost drafted him back in 2008 but Chot Reyes jumped ahead and traded for him. We were supposed to get him at No. 5, but he ended up going to Talk N Text at No. 3.”

The last time Cone handled the national squad was in the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok.

By that time, Castro was just a 12-year-old boy playing at the street courts of Bacolor in Pampanga. But soon, he rose to become one of the country’s most successful players in the international arena, competing in the 2007 SEA Games in Nakhon Ratchasima in Thailand before playing a key role for Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA Asia Men’s Championship in 2013 and FIBA World Championship in 2014.

But after the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifier last year, Castro declared that he’s quitting from playing in the international stage as he wants to give way to younger players.

With Cone’s appointment, everything changed.

And the tandem that was supposed to happen in 11 years ago, finally took place.