Jason Webb takes over the coaching reins for the Star Hotshots.
Tim Cone is on his way out of the confines of the Star Hotshots, a team he led to four straight titles including a Grand Slam.
Replacing him is a rookie head coach.
Jason Webb has made his mark in the PBA landscape as a quick-witted commentator.
After four conferences as Cone’s assistant, Webb was pushed into the helm of one of the PBA’s most famous franchise as his mentor moved on to the league’s undisputed crowd-darlings.
READ: Cone holds first presscon as Ginebra coach
Big shoes to fill and Webb admitted his coaching resume doesn’t stack up to Cone’s.
“Those shoes belonged to Coach Tim. Coach Tim is the greatest coach in the PBA,” Webb said Thursday at the San Miguel office. “Those shoes are not ‘fillable.'”
Cone admitted it is hard leaving his players, but the bosses of San Miguel knew the change would be beneficial to both teams.
READ: Leaving Star players hardest part of Ginebra transfer, says Cone
Like fathers looking after their sons, Ginebra San Miguel President Bernie Marquez and Purefoods President Butch Alejo sat on the opposite ends of the table to give the spotlight on Cone and Webb.
Webb said his appointment as the new head coach of Star is not as Cone’s “replacement” rather he just filled a vacancy.
A huge vacancy.
“When Coach Tim left, there was a big vacancy, I was getting into that vacancy, rather than replacing Coach Tim,” Webb said. CFC