For Cone, biggest thrill is making fans happy

MANILA, Philippines — With an all-time high nine Governors’ Cup titles and 22 PBA crowns overall and counting, one would think that Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone, the gold standard in coaching, gets tired of the tough grind to success.

On the contrary, Cone said he gets vigor from his hungry players and the Gin Kings’ doubly hungry throng of fans.

“Winning never gets old. I think that’s No. 1,” said the 62-year-old mentor after the Gin Kings captured their fourth championship under his tutelage.

“To watch our guys get excited and to push hard for something and to actually achieve it and being a part of that and watching them really battle for it, there’s no greater feeling than that.”

It also has lots to do with what he embraced as the responsibility to the “barangay” of his hugely popular squad.

Every success of Ginebra, he said, brings happiness to their fans; every failure, sadness. 

“It’s just a great honor coaching Ginebra. It’s like coaching the national team. After 30 years (in the PBA), no doubt about it, coming to Ginebra has really reinvigorated me as a coach.

“Feeling the attention from the fans and stuff, it keeps me going and moving forward, no time to slow down. So I’m enjoying it. My mentor Tex Winter coached until he was 86 so you’ll never know,” he said.

Cone said the Gin Kings felt such responsibility even more in the latest Governors’ Cup finals showdown with Meralco as Ginebra fans from Batangas province are facing enormous odds with the eruption of Taal Volcano.

“It’s been literally a dark cloud over that area there and with us winning, hopefully we bring a little sunshine into their lives. Our team has such a big responsibility to all the fans to bring some sunshine. I know when we win games, there’s some sunshine that’s gone out and that’s a great responsibility that we have,” he said.

An appreciative Cone and the Gin Kings treated supporters to a fans day/victory party at Metrowalk Tent in Pasig Monday night, celebrating three days after reclaiming the Governors’ Cup diadem with a 4-1 drubbing of the Meralco Bolts.