THIS might be true if the one saying it is the PBA’s winningest coach.
Ginebra and Gilas Pilipinas tactician Tim Cone is convinced the Nationals now have generational cagers bannered by reigning seven-time pro league MVP June Mar Fajardo, 7-foot-3 center Kai Sotto, and do-it-all guard Scottie Thompson.
“What’s really nice about the Gilas team right now is that we’ve got generational talents on the team. I don’t know if I’m jumping ahead or anything,” Cone said. “You’ve got June Mar who is 34 years old, he’s 6-foot-10 and he is a generational player.
“There’s nobody like him throughout this whole generation–one of a kind, seven MVP awards and completely dominant and has proven to be as dominant in Europe as well and I think that was a big surprise for everybody,” he added.
While Cone spoke highly of the San Miguel Beer star big man poised to bag a record-extending eight MVP award before the 49th season of Asia’s pioneering cage tilt starts on Aug. 18, Sotto, 22, is also a gem of a player in his generation.
“Then you’ve got Kai Sotto who’s 22 years old, who’s 7-foot-3 and how many Pinoys do you know who are 7-foot-3 and who can play the game? I mean, he’s not just 7-foot-3. He is a fluid 7-foot-3. He is an intelligent 7-foot-3,” Cone said. “He sees the game maybe because he grew up so much with his father being a basketball player like Steph Curry, following up with his dad.
“But there’s a presence about Kai that aren’t people aren’t taking, I think at this point and that makes him a generational talent and he is just starting his generation. (He’s only) 22.”
Fajardo and Sotto make up Cone’s Gilas frontline that also has 6-foot-10 AJ Edu.
Cone reserved a spot for Thompson, a former MVP winner who’s inarguably the Kings’ heart and soul.
“I think Scottie Thompson is a generational player as well. I thought Johnny Abarrientos was a generational player,” Cone said.
“There was no one like him at that time and Scottie is a generational player in a different way. So, I feel like we have three or four generational players on the Gilas team and potential for more.”
