Matapos dominahin ng Alaska ang late 90s kung saan naitala nila ang mailap na Grand Slam noong 1996, unti-unting bumagsak ang Aces at unti-unti ring napapanghinaan ng loob si Cone.
"After 1998 Asian Games where I only got bronze medal for the Philippines, it gave me a kick," ani Cone. "Then we trade and rebuild the team, I was beginning to think that I lost it. The younger coaches caught up with me. I felt that I lost my confidence," ani Cone. "2001-2002, I was really down."
Tinibag ng Alaska ang kanilang Grand Slam team na binubuo nina Bong Hawkins, Johnny Abarrientos, Poch Juinio at maging si Kenneth Duremdes na naging susi sa kanilang huling titulo noong 2001 All-Filipino ay nagawa rin nilang ipamigay.
Pinalitan ng Alaska ng mga batang players ang kanilang koponan sa katauhan nina Ali Peek, John Arigo, Don Allado, Rob Duat, Mike Cortez, Brandon Lee Cablay at Jon Ordonio.
Unti-unting hinulma ni Cone ang kanyang batang koponan para ibigay sa Alaska ang ika-11 titulo. (Ulat ni Carmela V. Ochoa)