Two-time grand slam coach Tim Cone barely had time to prepare Barangay Ginebra ahead of the PBA Philippine Cup, but the league’s most popular team didn’t have trouble winning its first two games.
“You’ve got to give my assistant coaches a lot of credit,” Cone told PinoyStep.com in an exclusive interview.
“Coach Olsen (Racela) and Coach Kirk (Collier) were the ones, when we were gone away, who were handling the practices. They were practicing through the whole stint that Richard (del Rosario) and I had during the FIBA Asia Cup preparations.”
Cone and Del Rosario were focused preparing Gilas Pilipinas after getting fresh mandate since the multi-titled mentor got re-appointed by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas as national team head coach.
Both coaches were calling on the sidelines when the Philippines reclaimed the Asian Games gold medal after a 61-year drought and they were back successfully steering the Pinoy quintet in sweeping the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup, beating Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei convincingly, just recently.
The two returned to the Gin Kings camp barely a week before the start of the Philippine Cup, but Cone was surprised at how the team was prepared by Racela and Collier, the caretakers of the squad.
“We relied on them to get our fundamentals, both offensively and defensively,” said Cone. “I came back and I was very surprised and very pleased at how well we were playing. So obviously, they didn’t need me there and they came in here in-shape and they’re ready to go.”
“It’s been fun to watch and people we’re doing this without Scottie at this point. Nards is stepping up, big time for us, Mav is stepping up and we haven’t felt the void of Scottie.”
A nagging back injury has sidelined Thompson the past two games and the former Most Valuable Player is expected to miss the annual All-Star Weekend as well.
Cone is hoping Ginebra can endure the remaining games without Thompson, but the winningest coach in PBA history believes they will need him in the long haul.
