Cone shares PBAPC award with Robinson

MANILA, Philippines — Barangay Ginebra mentor Tim Cone was gracious enough to share the Outstanding PBA Coach of the Bubble trophy to a person he thought was just as deserving.

The most accomplished coach in league history acknowledged Phoenix counterpart Topex Robinson for the way he whipped the Fuel Masters into a competitive team in so short a time during the Philippine Cup.

Phoenix was the second seeded team going to the playoffs behind Ginebra, and fell just short of making the finals for the first time in franchise history when it lost to TNT Tropang Giga in their do-or-die Game 5 in the semifinals.

“He did such a tremendous job in the bubble. So I just want to acknowledge him and share this award with him and that’s Topex Robinson,” said Cone in his acceptance speech during the PBA Press Corps virtual Awards Night Sunday at the TV5 Media Center.

“Topex did a tremendous job with his team as well, so Topex this one is for you as well. All the best.”

The Kings eventually beat the Tropang Giga in five games during the best-of-seven finals to win the first bubble championship of the league.

But despite his team’s success, Cone thought Robinson would win the special award given out by the group which covers the PBA beat.

“I thought he was going to win the award. Im quite surprised to win (the award) because Topex took on a team, integrated (Calvin) Abueva, and did so many good things and went all the way to the end. They just lost out in the last few mins of that TNT series,” said Cone during the awards proceedings presented by Cignal TV.