Cone's leadership might be needed even more this time around.
Tim Cone, who piloted Gilas Pilipinas to an improbable, historic gold-medal finish in the 19th Asian Games, is raring to get reacquainted with his baby: Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
"That's my baby," Cone said of the crowd darlings in an article posted on the PBA website. "That's really my focus right now, getting back at Ginebra. I'm excited being back with them and going to work."
Cone, of course, has largely stayed away from Team NSD, focusing his attention instead on Gilas Pilipinas, where he served as assistant to Chot Reyes in both the Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia and the FIBA World Cup here in the country.
Naturally, the PBA's winningest coach has developed a longing for his team, which he has led to seven championships since taking over in 2015.
"I haven't worked for Ginebra for what, four or five months because of the Asian Games, the (FIBA) World Cup. I was training with them (Gilas)," Cone added. "I missed our guys there (Ginebra)."
While excited, Cone’s current order of business is to make the most of his US visit, where he is spending time with his two elder sisters.
Once back, though, Cone vows to be “ready to get back and go work with them (Kings)."
That should be good news for Ginebra fans, who are bracing for life without Justin Brownlee after the six-time champ’s positive doping test in the aftermath of the Asian Games.
Of course, nothing is set in stone yet as regards Brownlee, but the controversy he is embroiled in has the potential to put a dark cloud on Ginebra’s preparations for Season 48—and even all the way to its Commissioner’s Cup campaign.
So, it sure would help Ginebra to get back Cone’s calming leadership as it navigates the uncertainties borne out of the Brownlee situation.