To say that their careers are forever intertwined may sound cliche, but that’s basically been the reality Tim Cone and Chot Reyes live in.
More so now that the decorated coaches are about to face one another in a PBA Finals for the second successive time, as they aim to steer their respective teams to the pinnacle of success in the Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup.
“It just continues to get heightened the more we go along,” said the Barangay Ginebra chief mentor of the rivalry of sorts they have with one another. “And I think the older we get, I think the more special these series become.”
The upcoming best-of-7 series will be the eighth time that Cone will meet his former assistant coach in Alaska 35 years ago, marking another chapter to what has grown into a beautiful battle of the minds.
“Yeah, 35 years to be exact,” reflected Reyes. “My last time with Alaska was 1990, so that’s 35 years ago before I moved over to Purefoods.”
And if you’re ever wondering who has the edge, it’s the TNT coach.
The 61-year-old broke their 3-all deadlock in just the 2024 Governors’ Cup after leading the Tropang Giga to a successful title defense bid.
Now, he’s going after the only championship he hasn’t won since returning to Asia’s first pro league from a decade-long absence back in 2021.
The last time he won the Commissioner’s Cup crown was in 2011, when he led the Tropang Texters to a six-game conquest over, coincidentally, the crowd darlings, which was then being coached by Jong Uichico.
Ginebra is once again standing in Reyes’ way, and will go up against a team whose motivation is to reclaim supremacy in the conference after losing the title they last won in 2023 by beating Bay Area in a historic Game 7 in Bulacan.
For sure, that chess match will be one of the most — if not the most — anticipated stories in the Finals, but the former Gilas mentor looks at the bigger picture.
“I think the more important thing is the legacy that we leave,” he said. “Hopefully we’re two coaches who are not only coaching for the victory of our respective teams but to really leave a mark and a legacy on Philippine coaching.
“And at the end, when all of this is said and done, hopefully that’s something that we can both be proud of,” continued Reyes.
And no matter how intense the series could get, one thing won’t ever change: the respect that they have with one another — as competitors and friends.
“You know, we’re friends, but we also know we’re competitors. And we like to compete,” said Cone, who’s out to win his record-extending 25 titles.
“And I think, you know, irrespective of the teams we coach, we’ve always had great respect and really come out and compete with each other. It doesn’t change through the years,” he added.
