Ginebra coach Tim Cone missing grind of basketball practice

FILE – Barangay Ginebra head coach Tim Cone huddles his team during practice at Upper Deck. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Barangay Ginebra didn’t even play a single game in the PBA Philippine Cup before the season was abruptly postponed due to COVID-19.

The postponement came to as a shocker when it was announced back in March but with stay at home orders still in effect in most places in the country, having no live sports events has become part of the “new normal” now.

But for guys like Ginebra coach Tim Cone, an avid fan of the sport for so long, it’s been tough not having basketball as part of the daily routine.

The league’s only 22-time champion coach has been a head coach in the PBA since 1989 but this is the first time in his professional life that he’s been forced out of the game he’s loved so dearly.

“The thing I miss the most is practice, I miss being in practice,” said Cone in a story on PBA.ph. “I miss seeing the guys and being around and planning for practice.”

“It’s a real addiction to basketball. And that’s what I missed most of all.”

It wasn’t just the games that were put on hold, but also the teams’ practices due to the enhanced community quarantine, which has been extended to May 15.

Cone, though, understands the situation.

“We all know basketball is one of the hardest to start because it’s so much interaction between the players,” said Cone.

To keep himself busy, Cone turned his focus away from his players and into his son.

“I get to coach my son every day. We spend half an hour every day with a little basketball court, a really small one with a court so that he can shoot,” said Cone. “So that I can have my coaching step out and put it on myself.”