Tim Cone sat at the end of the bench but didn’t really intervene with the coaching.
Sparingly used players in the regular season are not the only ones being tested in the PBA on Tour. Count the coaching staff of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel among them as well.
With coach Tim Cone expected to focus on his Gilas Pilipinas' build-up for the FIBA World Cup in August, the assistant coaches led by Richard del Rosario are now tasked to handle matters for the undermanned Ginebra in the preseason tilt.
Missing key players like Christian Standhardinger and Stanley Pringle, Ginebra received a baptism of fire after bowing to the San Miguel Beermen, 90-78, on Sunday at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.
As the Beermen battered Ginebra on all fronts, Cone sat comfortably at the end of the bench with his two hands on his chin. He didn’t intervene in any way.
“Sabi ko nga sana siya na lang mag-coach e,” Del Rosario said in jest.
Turning serious, Del Rosario said it’s a good opportunity for the staff to find ways on their own and grow with the players.
“It’s a chance for us as a coaching staff to grow with them now that we’re the ones handling the team,” he told reporters after the blowout loss.
“We just have to look at who’s here. And try to maximize the skills and the talents that they have and hopefully we can compete every night.”
That’s why he’s politely asking the legion of Ginebra faithful for patience.
“For Ginebra fans, just a little bit of patience lang. We’re all new. This is all new. We’re trying to figure out a system that will bring out the talents of the players that we have,” he said.
(GM)