When Ginebra faced Alaska last December 12 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City, it was just a normal regular season game.
In hindsight, it might be the last time Tim Cone last sees the squad he coached for 22 years in the hardcourt of the Philippine Basketball Association.
On Wednesday morning, Alaska has decided to leave Philippine basketball to ensure the long-term sustainability of the company.
“It’s an end of an era,” said Cone in a text message to Tiebreaker Times — clearly having a hard time absorbing everything that had happened over the last 12 hours.
“Going forward now without Alaska in the league will seem unnatural and I believe it will mark a time of great transition for the PBA.”
Before figuring in countless battles for the past decade, Cone was the general of the then-Air Force-turned-Milkmen in the ’90s.
It was Alaska who gave Cone his first break, hiring him as the team’s head coach in 1989 when he was just 32 years old.
In fact, the battles of Cone and Alaska even reached the Supreme Court when the Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines filed a case against him that questioned his employment.
Despite not being able to coach for 18 months, the Uytengsus and the team continued to support him.
He paid it back by giving the Aces 13 championships. It was a time that Cone will always look back with wonder.
“I’m saddened by the news of Alaska’s exit from the PBA, but looking back, I’m extremely proud of my time with Alaska where I made many lifetime friends amongst the players and staff,” expressed Cone, who left Alaska in 2011. “My coaching career grew up under the stewardship and friendship of Mr. Fred Uytengsu, and I’m grateful for his mentoring.
“I am who I am as a coach and as a person because of that “
Cone played a huge part in building the culture of Alaska, a team that personified fair play above all else.
But now that it’s gone, Cone hopes that its legacy lives on among the remaining 11 PBA teams.
“Alaska and those that led it will be sorely missed. It was a proud franchise with great successes and I was fortunate to be a part of its legacy and culture.”
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