Teams will be on equal footing, say Austria, Cone

San Miguel coach Leo Austria isn’t alone in his opinion that the chase for the PBA Philippine Cup crown will be a wide-open race if the league’s 45th season pushes through with its October restart.

Barangay Ginebra’s Tim Cone, the league’s winningest coach, believes the five-month layoff will prove to be a great equalizer for all the 12 teams bidding to capture the All-Filipino title—if the tournament does get to see an end this year.

“I think the long break equalizes things quite a bit,” Cone told the league’swebsite.

It’s obvious that Cone’s Gin Kings don’t have the momentum of their Governors’ Cup conquest anymore—with the long break and all—like San Miguel, even if the Beermen are targeting a sixth straight All-Filipino title and trying to do it without injured six-time most valuable player June Mar Fajardo.

Austria admitted it may take some time before his team also finds its form.

“There’s no substitute to being in game shape,” he said. “So I think that puts everyone on equal footing going into the planned restart of the season.”

“We’re all going back after a long, long stretch,” Cone said.