AFTER winning 19 championships in the Philippine Basketball Association for the last 27 years, coach Tim Cone is learning to appreciate what makes each title conquest different from the other.
And this is what makes Cone feel great after the Ginebra San Miguel Gin Kings won the 2016 PBA Governors’ Cup.
“Championships are going to come. You never put a time on it. It’s about building a foundation. And when you have good foundation, it just comes. Every championship has its own personality. And you have to appreciate all of them. It’s like your children. You learn their difference,” said Cone during Monday’s thanksgiving party at the San Miguel Corporation Headquarters in Mandaluyong.
Cone said the unique experiences that the team gained throughout the finals series made it memorable, and different.
First, it was the return of Jay Jay Helterbrand in Game 4, then the presence of legendary cager Sonny Jaworski during the halftime break, which the players appreciated.
And then, there was the game-winning shot of Justine Brownlee.
“A lot of things led to the way they did. And the incredible reaction of the fans. That overshadows everything,” added Cone.
For now, Cone is focused on keeping the Ginebra core intact in the next tournament of the PBA.
The Gin Kings own the two first-round picks in the regular draft and Cone feels the need for the Kings to stay together.
“We just won a championship and we feel really good about being intact,” added Cone.
Brownlee was the hero of Game 6 of the finals when he hit a three-pointer at the buzzer for a 91-88 win over Meralco.
It was the Kings’ first league championship in eight years and Cone’s first crown under the Ginebra franchise, after steering the Alaska Aces to 12 crowns.