Ginebra coach Tim Cone, a former Alaska mentor, during against the Gin Kings and the Aces in the 2021 PBA Governors’ Cup. PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines–PBA forging ahead without the Alaska franchise is going to take some getting used to, according to Tim Cone.
“Going forward now without Alaska in the league will seem unnatural,” Cone told the Inquirer, on the heels of Alaska’s announcement on Wednesday saying that it intends to put its PBA franchise up for sale by season’s end.
Alaska was Cone’s early stomping ground and was his home until he blossomed to the peerless mentor that he is now.
Together, Alaska and Cone spent 23 years adorned with multiple titles and a rare Grand Slam back in 1996. The former led the franchise to 13 of its 14 PBA titles, the second-most in PBA history.
“I’m saddened by the news of Alaska’s exit from the PBA, but looking back, I’m extremely proud of my time with Alaska where I made many lifetime friends amongst the players and staff,” he said.
FILE–Alaska Aces during its time with head coach Tim Cone.
Like many who spent time with the organization, Cone also believes that much of the figure that he is now is because of Alaska, particularly Wilfred Uytengsu Jr.
“My coaching career grew up under the stewardship and friendship of Mr. Uytengsu, and I’m grateful for his mentoring. I am who I am as a coach and as a person because of that,” he said.
“Tim continues to be a very good coach—the most successful coach in the PBA. He started with us with really no experience to speak of and went on to win many championships,” Uytengsu said of Cone in the hastily-arranged press briefing held Wednesday noon.
Alaska will now have to find a new owner for its PBA franchise or hand it over to the league which could elect to scatter its crew by way of a dispersal draft.
“Needless to say, it’s an end of an era. Alaska and those that led it will be sorely missed. It was a proud franchise with great successes and I was fortunate to be a part of its legacy and culture,” Cone said.
And as jarring and unsettling the development maybe for some, Cone believes Alaska’s exit is shaping up as a watershed moment for Asia’s pioneering pro league.
“I believe it will mark a time of great transition for the PBA,” he said.