Jeffrey Cariaso was ecstatic to go against his former mentor in Tim Cone when his Alaska Aces faced the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in the 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup.
It has been years since the two went their separate ways. Sunday marked the first time that Cariaso and the multi-decorated tactician faced off against each other as head coaches in five years — or since Cariaso was with Ginebra and Cone was with San Mig Coffee.
“It’s always fun,” said Cariaso, who played for Cone in Alaska from 1995-1996 and in the latter part of his playing career. He later on served as one of Cone’s deputies with B-Meg/San Mig Coffee.
“I learned so much from him. A lot of my principles are from what I learned from him as a player and as a coach.”
Sunday also marked Cariaso’s second game as the Aces’ head coach. And since they were coming off an opening day loss to Columbian, they wanted to bounce back at Ginebra’s expense.
But Cone spoiled those plans as he steered the Gin Kings to a dominant 102-83 victory to start off their quest of returning on top of the season-ending conference on a high note.
“Always a challenge. I wanted my first one for Alaska was against him, but it didn’t work out,” said Cariaso.
Meanwhile, Cone couldn’t help but feel sentimental that some of his players have now become head coaches, citing Aris Dimaunahan and Johnedel Cardel as prime examples.
“I’m happy I got Jeff there now, I got Aris Dimaunahan, he played for me for a year and a half. John Cardel played for me for two or three years… It’s nice to have these young guys out there coaching.”
Cariaso is off to a not-so-ideal start as Alaska’s chief bench strategist with a 0-2 record. Still, the two-time Grand Slam winner is confident that the 47-year-old will soon hit strides.
“John John is coaching great, Aris had a tremendous conference last conference. And I think Jeff is going to go in line with that,” Cone said. “It’s just gonna take time to kinda mold this together.”
Cariaso gushed after hearing such kind words from Cone, an owner of 21 PBA championships.
“That’s great to hear,” said the seven-time champion. “He’s… Again, he’s really shown respect, and I’ve learned so much from him as a player and as a coach. So, everything’s a process, right?
“Two games under my belt, so very young pa tayo, very young with regards to our head coaching stint. Us being together as a team, trying to improve the culture that we have on the team,” he continued.
“So we’re just staying positive. We’re just staying the course and then keep moving.”
