GINEBRA coach Tim Cone’s legendary coaching career began with the Alaska franchise, with TNT tactician Jojo Lastimosa, Johnny Abarrientos, Bong Hawkins, and import Sean Chambers playing key roles in their dynastic run, capped by winning the rare Triple Crown in 1996.
Cone is now ranged against Lastimosa in a coaching duel that is expected to be like a chess match and is hoping his former ward will not get his maiden title as a strategist at his expense.
“Jojo and I have been together for years. I’m actually real proud that he is in the position that he is now. I’m real proud of how successful he is. Going up head-to-head with him, it’s going to be difficult,” Cone said yesterday during the finals press conference at the Novotel Manila Araneta City.
“He’s had great exposure not only from me but also from Chot Reyes and Yeng Guiao. He has brought the best of that. It’s obvious. He has only lost two games in his (coaching) career so far.
“Both of them were games that probably should have been won. He can be easily undefeated at this point. He is doing a wonderful job and I’m proud that I was a part of history,” Cone added.
The Kings and the Tropang Giga clash on Easter Sunday, April 9, in Game 1 of their best-of-7 Big Dance for the PBA Governors’ Cup crown at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Cone is convinced he will have his hands full against Lastimosa, who won nine of his 10 titles with the Aces under Cone.
“It’s tough going head-to-head because he knows me like the back of his hand. He knows my approach,” Cone said. “He knows the way he likes to adjust. He has seen that all through the years. It’s gonna be very hard for me to keep him unbalanced.”
Ginebra is seeking to win the second of three crowns this season after the Kings ruled the last Commissioner’s Cup against foreign guest team Bay Area and their third straight diadem in the Third Conference.
Bannered by naturalized Filipino Justin Brownlee, reigning MVP Scottie Thompson, Christian Standhardinger, Jamie Malonzo, Jeremiah Gray, and Stanley Pringle, the Kings will also see action in the finals for the fifth time in the last six editions of the season-ending tourney.
They are determined more than ever to win it all for skipper LA Tenorio, who is battling stage 3 colon cancer.
TNT has yet to bag a title in the Governors’ Cup, which explains why the Tropang Giga, led by reinforcement Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Mikey Williams, Roger Pogoy, Jayson Castro, Calvin Oftana, and Justin Chua, are raring to hit pay dirt.
Even pro league chief Willie Marcial expects a chess match between the two coaches.
“Sa akin po, ang inaabangan na match-up ay hindi ang players at imports kundi ang mga coaches– si coach Tim at si coach Jolas,” he said. “Ang imports at players, magandang match-up. Balikatan iyan. Alam ninyo kung saan magkakatalo? Sa coaches.”
