Cone feels no pressure, just appreciation for second Grand Slam opportunity

MANILA, Philippines – “That’s what happens to other teams [that try for a Grand Slam], they start to feel the pressure.” 

The 17-time champion coach Tim Cone, already a veteran of the coveted Grand Slam, already knows exactly how to keep his team in check as they fight for their fourth straight title, and the third one that will give them the Grand Slam, in the Finals of the 2014 PLDT Home Telpad PBA Governors’ Cup.  

Cone is back in this situation 18 years after he coveted the Triple Crown with Alaska in 1996. And he understands the last thing he or his San Mig Super Coffee Mixers of the present needs is unwarranted pressure.  

“I know there’s a lot of talk about the Grand Slam and the guys will attest that it’s something we try hard and focus on not to think about,” explained the 56-year old Cone during the PBA Finals press conference on Monday, June 30 at Eastwood.  

“Trying for a Grand Slam, the pressure builds the closer you get to that. You talk about it, people start talking about it and it starts to build and build. And that’s one of the reasons we don’t talk about it too much because we don’t need the extra pressure. We don’t want to feel extra pressure and give the edge to Rain or Shine.” 

The Mixers will be going up against old foes Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in a rematch of the Finals from the 2014 Philippine Cup, which San Mig won, and the 2012 Governors’ Cup, where the Painters prevailed.  

“We’re just like coach Yeng, we’re just trying to go out and win a championship. If it happens to be the one that gives us a Grand Slam then it’s good,” Cone said. 

The Painters are, indeed, ready for a dogfight in this Finals series. They want a follow-up to their title from two years ago, and they want to begin building the foundations of what they hope will be success and a legacy like San Mig Coffee’s.  

“Whatever happens to them, they’ll still be a great team. He’ll still be a legendary, winningest coach in the league. They’ll have their championships to count,” said Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao. 

“Kumbaga sa halo-halo, ito lang yung ice cream sa taas [for San Mig]. Para lang maging special. Sa amin wala pa yung halo-halo namin. I think in terms of hunger and desire, we probably desire it more.” 

(Like in a halo-halo, this is just the ice cream on top for San Mig. Just so it becomes special. For us, we don’t even have the halo-halo itself yet.)

The 18-year difference

It is said that one year can make all the difference in the world. Just imagine how much difference there is over a span of 18 years?

It’s been 18 years since Cone’s Grand Slam with Alaska. He was only 38 years old then, and he didn’t even know he’d be right back in that same position nearly two decades later. 

“I guess the biggest difference between 18 years ago and now is I was only 38 years old back then,” he said simply when asked of the changes he experienced over the years.

Cone has changed a lot since then, especially since he’s a huge believer of continuously progressing and moving forward.  

He went on to share his shift in perspective from being a young coach with the entire future within his grasp, to being a wise, experienced, and successful coach in his 50s. 

“You’re that young and you just started coaching and it seems like these things come around all the time. You win a championship, there’s always gonna be another one. You win a Grand Slam there’s always gonna be another one. 

“But now in my 50s I realize how difficult this all is and how important it is so I savor it a lot more now. And I really appreciate more of the effort that our players go through.” 

In the same vein, this Finals match-up between two very dominant teams in the PBA right now is also a display of the teams’ growth since they last met. 

Cone feels Rain or Shine has changed and evolved leaps and bounds as well since they last met on this stage in the Philippine Cup two conferences ago. 

He calls them “a more mature team” and one that is “more comfortable with the system.”

Tim Cone has changed as well. His team has definitely changed. Rain or Shine has changed. The times have changed. 

But the real difference, and perhaps what Cone would like to think may be the game-changer, is how he will approach this best-of-5 Finals series starting on Tuesday, July 1. 

“If we don’t get this Grand Slam, yeah we’ll be disappointed but we’ll look back and say we got 3 in a row and we’ve been in the Finals 4 times. We’ll be happy with that, we’ll be proud of ourselves,” he explained his nothing-to-lose mentality. 

“But if we win it of course that’ll even be better. But I don’t want us to feel obsessed by it.”

In hindsight it may look like the pressure is all on San Mig Coffee to deliver. But from where Cone stands – on the sidelines trying to steer a team toward history – nothing is more important than appreciating the opportunity itself. 

“I keep telling these guys this is a once in a lifetime situation. The fact that I’ve been able to be involved in it twice is truly a blessing and a true opportunity.”

And that is how much difference 18 years can make. – Rappler.com