Hindi umano problema para kay Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone kung magiging panandalian lamang ang kanyang pag-upo bilang head mentor sa Gilas Pilipinas.
Ayon kay Cone, bagama’t hindi pa niya opisyal na tinatanggap ang nasabing alok ng Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), naiintindihan niya raw na hanggang Southeast Asian (SEA) Games lamang ang offer.
“I understand fully that if I take the position it’s just a stop-gap position, it’s no commitment to the Gilas head coaching,” wika ni Cone.
“It’s just that the SEA Games is coming up quick, and they want someone to step in and do it. I can very easily be a one-and-done guy, I just go and coach the SEA Games and that’s it,” dagdag nito.
Sinabi pa ng PBA winningest tactician na marami pa raw itong kailangang linawin ukol sa isyu ng pag-coach sa national team.
“I don’t know the mechanics. I don’t know what the pool is, I don’t know where we will practice, I don’t know how many practices we will have, I don’t know who my staff is. I don’t even know if they will have a firm commitment to me and do it. We still have to talk about all those mechanics,” giit ni Cone.
Inamin din ni Cone na malaking factor sa kanyang magiging pasya ang go signal na ibinigay ng top management ng San Miguel Beer.
Apparently, so far, I got the blessing of San Miguel and that’s obviously crucial. It won’t happen without that,” anang two-time grand slam coach.
Inaasahang ngayong araw ibubulgar ni Cone ang kanyang desisyon kung tatanggapin ba nito ang Gilas head coaching, sa nakatakda nitong pulong sa mga opisyal ng SBP.
“Monday was supposed to be the day that we solve the issue, not tonight. I don’t have real information except that Mr. Al Panlilio did approach me, and we did talk about it but nothing firm has been decided,” ani Cone.
Naging head coach na rin noon si Cone ng national squad nang manduhan nito ang Centennial Team sa bronze-medal finish noong 1998 Asian Games sa Bangkok, Thailand.
