Cone says first-timer Meralco the experienced side, not Ginebra

Ginebra coach Tim Cone. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Barangay Ginebra head coach Tim Cone isn’t into the impression that his team will be facing a first-timer in the finals.

In fact, Cone gives the edge in experience to the Meralco Bolts, who will be in their first finals appearance since joining the PBA in 2010.

“That’s not a first-timer,” said Cone, who didn’t even let the reporter finish his question, after steering the Gin Kings to the championship round for the first time since getting swept by the Alaska Aces in the 2013 Commissioner’s Cup.

READ: After long wait, Ginebra ousts San Miguel to return to PBA Finals

Cone, who sealed his 30th finals appearance, said that Meralco can’t be considered a rookie in the big stage with veterans like its coaching staff, headed by Norman Black, and leader Jimmy Alapag.

“Norman Black is not a first-timer. It’s all about the leadership over there. They dominated Talk ‘N Text and it wasn’t that close,” Cone said, referring to the other semifinals series where Meralco knocked off top seed TNT in four games.

“The organization may be new to the finals but he’s been there multiple times, Luigi Trillo is over there which is really a thorn in my side because he knows me well. He knows what I like to do and I had a lot of trouble with him when he took over Alaska. So I don’t see them as a novice group that everybody else does,” he added, referring to the Meralco assistant coach.

READ: A win away from finals, Ginebra has ‘no right to feel tired’

“And also, you got Jimmy there too. Obviously, Jimmy knows how to win, he knows how to make his teammates win and to me, they are the experienced group, not us.”

Black, Luigi Trillo and Alapag have 18 championships between them.

Cone also flashed back to his first year as PBA coach and mentioned the many times he and Black were on opposing benches.

“I’ve had my battles with Norman, through the years, obviously. I remember the year I came in to the league 1989 was the year that he won the Grand Slam and so I felt my whole career was based on trying to climb over him because Baby (Dalupan) was retiring soon and he was the new benchmark so I’ve always been chasing Norman.

Decades have passed since that time and Cone had overtaken Black in both win total and number of championships. He also has Black’s number as far as their finals head-to-head is concerned.

As per the league’s head statistician Fidel Mangonon, Black has never beaten Cone in a championship series.