Multi-titled mentor leaves Alaska bench after 22 years
Come the 37th season of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), the Alaska Aces will no longer have the coach responsible for the squad’s 13 titles, including a rare grand-slam in 1996.
American head coach Tim Cone has stepped down as the team’s head coach, ending a 22-year-old partnership with the Uytengsu franchise.
“We have released Tim Cone as head coach of the Alaska Aces. It came as quite a surprise to me when Tim asked me for his release last week,” said Alaska team owner and Cone’s friend Wilfred Uytengsu in a report posted on Inquirer.net.
Rumors that Cone was on the way out has been circulating the past few days and it was only yesterday that the shocking development was confirmed in a press conference at the Corinthian Plaza in Makati City.
“We wish Tim well. We had quite a journey. I know there was never a 22-year partnership like this in the PBA,” added Uytengsu.
He may have resigned as Alaska head coach but Cone is not closing his door to another coaching stint.
“I wouldn’t consider this a rest, I consider this more of a changing of direction. This is just simply a parting of ways. I would like to continue coaching and if there’s something out there, I’d certainly go for it,” said Cone, who opted out of the last two years of his contract.
“I’ve learned so much from this organization. The way you go about things, and if you’re doing things the right way over and over again, that begets winning.”
There were reports that Cone is headed to one of the three San Miguel-owned teams, particularly the B-Meg Llamados but the veteran coach denied this.
“I’ve heard of the rumors, I have not been given an offer from BMeg,” said Cone, who turned Alaska into one of the most successful franchises in the league using the intricate triangle offense.
BANAL TAKES OVER
Cone will be replaced by long-time assistant coach Joel Banal.
Alaska may have lost a brilliant coach in Cone but they will be welcoming a bench tactician who also knows how to win.
Banal won a title with the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the UAAP in 2002 and also led Talk ‘N Text to a championship finish in 2003.
“This is for sure, the 13 championships that’s hard to duplicate,” said Banal. “The system is obviously working. We will use a lot of coach Tim’s system and little by little probably we would inject a little of what I know.” With Inquirer.net
