All-Star Games have become a tedious task for 19-time champion head coach Tim Cone. In his illustrious 28-year career, he has been tapped to coach an All-Star team eight times.
“I’ve never been a fan of All Star themes because they always just fool around,” the 59-year old mentor quipped Sunday night after Ginebra’s win over TNT.
This year’s All-Star Game will be different, however, as the usual weekend festivity was extended to a week-long celebration. And on Sunday, the American mentor will coach the Visayas PBA All-Stars against the final Gilas Pilipinas line-up for the 2017 SEABA Championship.
“I heard I’m gonna coach June Mar [Fajardo] and Terrence [Romeo] for the first time. Sayang, they’re gonna move to the other team,” Cone shared, as he thinks Fajardo and Romeo are shoo-ins to crack the SEABA Championship team.
Coaching players from the other teams and getting to know them is what keeps the All-Star Games fresh for Cone.
“That’s what I’m excited about. It’s always interesting to coach, even for a moment, guys you always see from a distance. You get to know their a little bit about their personality,” Cone added.
“That’s kinda fun.”
But what excites Cone the most is his reunion with former player James Yap, who is a native of Negros Occidental.
During their four year run with Purefoods back in 2011 to 2015, the two created magic, winning five championship together. However, all good things must come to an end, as Cone then took over Ginebra back in 2015 while Yap was traded Rain or Shine late last year.
The familiarity between the teacher and his former student will certainly help the Visayas All Stars when they face the final Gilas lineup for the 2017 SEABA Championship.
“Coaching against the final roster, it’s gonna be tough for us for a lot of factors,” the three-time Coach of the Year added.
“But we’ve got good guys and I got James. The reunion with James is going to be fun!”
