Wednesday last week marked my PBA “homecoming. ” It was the first time I watched a live PBA game since 2006 and it was nothing short of being surreal.
It was surreal because a seemingly eternal fixture was no more. Long time Alaska head coach Tim Cone was now calling the shots for the enemy.
It has been a month since the American coach called it quits with the Alaska camp but the reality of it really sank unto me upon seeing him on the other side of the fence. The equation “Tim Cone = Alaska” was like “Jaworski = Ginebra” or “Patrimonio = Purefoods,” “Bryant = LA Lakers” or “Duncan = Spurs.” It was supposed to be like that… And so we thought.
During the pre-game warm-up, Coach Tim passed by the Alaska bench, exchanged warm greetings to his former players and coaching staff including the team mascot, E. Cow then continued walking towards the other end of the hardcourt. Towards the B-Meg Llamados bench.
I’ve been a solid Alaska fan dating back to the 1990’s and the night turned nostalgic and bittersweet, when the Big Dome’s giant screen flashed old videos of Cone’s memorable moments and accomplishments in his 22-year stint with Alaska then seeing him now with Johhny Abarrientos and Jeffrey Cariaso (his two hand-picked deputies in B-Meg) on the other side.
I should get used to not seeing coach Tim on the Alaska bench. I should get used to seeing him giving the Aces a hard time winning.
The Aces led early in the ball game but the Llamados inched their way back into the ballgame and snatched the victory. I wonder how Cone really felt about everything because it’s hard not to be emotional about something that you’ve lived and breathed the last two decades.
Alaska owner Fred Uytengsu, being the upright businessman that he is, took everything in a very professional manner. An era has ended for his franchise and a new chapter is being unfolded. To him, it’s all about moving on for every party involved.
As for me, it was my loyalty to the team that prevailed. At the end of the day, I know, wala pa ring tatalo sa Alaska... Not even Tim Cone.
thebankshot 