Cone naghahabol sa kasaysayan

SA kanyang anim na komperensiya bilang head coach ng San Mig Coffee sa PBA, limang beses na nakapasok sa semifinals ang tropa ni head coach Earl Timothy “Tim” Cone.

Noong una siyang pumasok sa PBA bilang coach ng Alaska, nakita niya ang mahigpit na labanan ng San Miguel Beer at Purefoods sa finals ng PBA noong dekada ’80 at ’90 kung saan naghari sina Alvin Patrimonio at Jerry Codinera ng Purefoods at Hector Calma, Samboy Lim at Allan Caidic ng SMB.

“Those were real great teams back then. I remember, when San Miguel won the Grand Slam, I was in my first year as coach and I liked Mon Fernandez and Hector Calma. I didn’t like glamour teams then,” wika ni Cone. “I hope this (finals) will remind fans of our history and keep this in mind.”

Muling maglalaban ang dalawang koponan sa finals ng PBA Governors’ Cup simula ngayon at  kung magkakampeon ang Coffee Mixers ay tatabla si Cone kay Virgilio “Baby” Dalupan na parehong may 16 na titulo bilang coach.

“Growing up, I love Baby Dalupan and he is my idol. Having a chance to tie him is an amazing thought but as coaches, we try to get the players not to focus on personal goals. I think from a coaching standpoint, when you have a personal goal, you really try to set them aside because you have to set the standard for everything else,” ani Cone.

(James Ty III)