YENG Guiao and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and Tim Cone and the San Mig Coffee Mixers get together with commissioner Chito Salud during yesterday’s news conference for the Governors’ Cup title series in Eastwood. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
MANILA, Philippines — Tim Cone of San Mig Coffee and Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao are trying very hard to downplay the Mixers’ Grand Slam bid in their best-of-five clash for the PBA Governors’ Cup title starting Tuesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
But something this special happens just once in a lifetime and Cone will be moving heaven and earth to give San Mig a fourth straight title and a sweep of all three titles this season while Guiao, despite denying it, will be doing the same to spoil that historic bid.
“We’re not salivating at the chance to prevent a Grand Slam (by San Mig), we just want a championship of our own,” Guiao said during the series’ formal launch Monday at Sambokojin Restaurant in Eastwood, Libis.
“Our purpose is not to spoil anything, not to disappoint San Mig fans,” he added. “Our purpose is to make our fans happy.”
Cone, who is actually in this situation for the second time in his career, knows that this might not happen again. Still, he said he wouldn’t lose sleep if the Mixers don’t complete this.
“I am in my fifties and I realize how difficult this is,” said Cone, who won all three titles in 1996 while with Alaska—the last time the Grand Slam was completed. “I figure at this day and age, that it’s really tough out there. But (should it not happen), we will be happy with that, we won three in a row. We’re not obsessed with it (Grand Slam).”
Guiao and Cone have expressed mutual admiration at how they’ve handled their respective teams. They have, after all, split the last two title series they played in.
“It’s always a great challenge playing against Yeng,” said Cone, the PBA’s winningest coach with 17 championships. “They play a lot like San Antonio (Spurs of the NBA).
“But as a coach, you never get tired of winning,” he continued. “And being able to be involved in it (Grand Slam chance) twice is a great opportunity.”
“We are the overwhelming underdogs, but we don’t mind that at all,” Guiao said.
And with that final statement by Guiao, it’s an even bigger story if the Painters do deny the Mixers of the Triple Crown sweep.
As for Cone, the glitter of what they could accomplish will not wane one bit when they conquer the Painters, whether they are the underdogs or otherwise.