Grand slams of old
THE PBA Press Corps fittingly set the stage for San Mig Coffee’s entry into the league’s Grand Slam club by inviting stars from previous winners to attend Tim Cone’s tribute as Coach of the Year last Thursday at Richmonde Hotel in Eastwood, Libis, Quezon City.
The deadly Fortunato “Atoy” Co and the crafty inside operator Philip Cezar represented the two Crispa slams of 1976 and 1983 while Jojo Lastimosa and Johnny Abarrientos were on hand for the 1996 Alaska squad.
It was unfortunate that there was no one around to represent the 1989 San Miguel Beer team.
In his acceptance speech, Cone saluted Co and Cezar and was “so star-struck just seeing them.” Cone grew up in the Philippines watching Crispa-Toyota games and knows that part of PBA history extremely well.
“It takes a special group of people to win a Grand Slam,” Cone explained. “And I’m sure Atoy and Philip were part of a special team as well.”
He then recalled his 1996 Alaska team and connected the experience with his present Grand Slam winner San Mig Coffee.
“We were once down by 17 in one game and I told the players that it’s up to you now. I’ll stop yelling and just sit on the bench,” Cone told his Coffee Mixers during one halftime break in one of the three championship runs.
Being a special breed of athletes, the players like James Yap, Mark Barroca and Marc Pingris responded and San Mig turned the game around and won.
It is in moments like the PBA Press Corps night when the community can sit back and recall the great moments of the previous season and those of years ago.
Making that connection between the Grand Slam teams made the PBA narrative even more special because one could see the shared struggles and challenges of those who achieved winning all three conferences of a season.
To cap it all, Tito Talao of Tempo whispered to me that legendary coach Virgilio “Baby” Dalupan had sent a message for Cone through a telephone conversation. As emcee with Quinito Henson that night, I read the special message.
Dalupan, the architect of the first Grand Slam and whose conference championship record was broken by Cone, saluted the American mentor.
As early as their first encounter in a PBA final and Cone’s Alaska team jumped to a 2-0 lead in a best-of-five, Dalupan concluded that Cone “was really a good coach.” Dalupan, by the way, rallied and won three straight games to give Purefoods its first title.
This historic connection augurs well for the forthcoming 40th season of the PBA. Its four decades was built by the league forerunners and sustained by players and teams that are part of its rich history. The league should continue to acknowledge its past so that it can continue to thrive in the future.
