Nationals ipinatanggol ni Cone

Matapos patalsikin ng kanyang koponan sa kontensiyon ang Asian Games-bound National squad, ipinagtanggol ni Alaska coach Tim Cone ang RP-Team Selecta at sinabi nitong mahusay ang naturang koponan at may kinabukasan sa kanilang kampanya sa Busan, South Korea.,

" I don’t care how they’re doing here (sa kasalukuyang PBA-Sam-sung Commissioners Cup ). They are a lot better than they look. A lot of people are dissapointed with their showing in this conference but they are better than we we’re in 1998," ani Cone.

Sinabi ni Cone na naiintindihan niya ang sitwasyon ngayon ni National coach Jong Uichico dahil kasabay ng kanilang kagustuhang magpakitang-gilas sa naturang torneo ay kailangan din nilang mapreserba para sa kanilang paglahok sa Asiad sa Setyembre.

"I’ve been in this situation before and it felt like we just wanted to finish the conference and get it over and done with and focus on other things," ani pa ni Cone na naging head coach din ng RP squad noong 1998 para sa Bangkok Asian Games kung saan naka-bronze ang PBA Selection.

"I think they (RP team) are a lot better now in terms of preparation, backing organization and I think they can outdo our bronze medal finish and get the silver and if they have a lucky night, they might win the gold," dagdag pa ni Cone.

Iminungkahi ni Cone na mas makakabuti kung hindi na lamang paglaruin sa PBA ang susunod na koponang ipapadala sa Asian Games at hayaan na la-mang silang mag-training.

"It’s hard to ask the players to throw out their PBA skills and then ask them to play in the PBA. It’s not going to happen. I admit, I wasn’t eager to play in the PBA before because you regress in terms of preparing for the Asian Games. (Ulat ni Carmela Ochoa)