Tim Cone didn’t hide that it was difficult to see Aljon Mariano go after his years of loyal service to Barangay Ginebra came to an end on Wednesday.
But the Kings head coach knows and understands at the same time that such developments are just part of the business side of basketball.
“We hate to see both of ’em go. But one wanted to go, and one didn’t, but that’s just the business of the PBA,” the league’s winningest mentor offered.
Mariano, 33, was shipped by the crowd darlings to Terrafirma along with Maverick Ahanmisi in exchange for the Dyip’s 2027 first-round pick.
Much of the attention over the past few weeks was on the former PBA D-League standout as he requested the trade from the team’s top brass.
“It was a situation where… He’s in the prime of his career, he wasn’t satisfied backing up Scottie and RJ, and so he requested a trade,” Cone said.
Ahanmisi got his wish, but Ginebra also had to give up Mariano to grant it, leading to the abrupt end of the latter’s lengthy stay with the franchise.
The former UST star spent his first nine years in the league with the Kings after being drafted 16th overall by the club during the 2015 Rookie Draft.
From there, he’d win a total of seven championships while serving as one of Cone’s more versatile forwards, which made their version of the Triangle click.
However, the past few seasons have seen Mariano hounded by a slew of injuries, partly the reason why his minutes in the rotation have diminished.
It didn’t help that the Barangay acquired a couple of key players in Stephen Holt and Troy Rosario, both of whom can play multiple positions.
Then came his eventual exit.
“Aljon has been incredibly loyal for so many years with us,” lamented Cone.
As tough as it was, the 67-year-old bench tactician is optimistic that Terrafirma could be the place where Mariano may regain his footing.
“It was really hard to see him go,” he said. “But I think that he wasn’t gonna get the playing time here, backing up Troy and Stephen.
“This will give him an opportunity to get out and kinda resuscitate his career.”
