Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Upon learning that he would call the shots for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, coach Tim Cone admitted he was flabbergasted.
“No one was more surprised than I was,” Cone recalled in an interview on CNN Philippines’ Sports Desk.
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Cone, the winningest coach in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), said that handling the most popular ball club entails a different kind of pressure, which may have burdened the squad’s previous coaches and players.
“The big difference is it’s Ginebra. There’s a different pressure for a Ginebra coach because of social media and fan involvement.”
But he is ready to take on the new challenge nevertheless.
“From a coaching standpoint, every time you get a new challenge, it kinda energizes you,” said the 18-time champion mentor.
Under Cone’s tutelage, what will become of the Ginebra team that has been mired in a championship drought since 2008?
“We will be a settled team,” he said. “That will be our goal: settle our offense, settle our defense, and then run when there’s an opportunity.”
Known to be a big man’s coach, the American mentor said he is happy to have two of the league’s prime slotmen.
“I have two of the premiere big men in the league in Greg (Slaughter) and Japeth (Aguilar) and that is energizing for me,” said Cone.
However, he added that the Gin Kings’ fate really does not hinge on the two prized cagers, but on star guard Mark Caguioa.
“I think for this team to be successful, Mark needs to transform his own game,” Cone bared.
“It kinda reminds me of Jojo Lastimosa. That’s where Mark is headed.”
Lastimosa was part of Cone’s Alaska team that achieved a Grand Slam in the 1990s.
