MANILA, Philippines - Ilang minuto matapos makamit ang pambihirang PBA Grand Slam ay hindi pa rin makapaniwala si head coach Tim Cone na mangyayari ito matapos ang 18 taon.
“I have to sit at home in a quiet room with the lights off and close my eyes, let this thing sink in. This didn’t seem possible, even for me,” sabi ng 56-anyos na si Cone.
Tinapos ng San Mig Coffee ang kanilang best-of-five championship series ng Rain or Shine sa pamamagitan ng 92-89 panalo sa Game Five para angkinin ang korona ng 2014 PBA Governors’ Cup noong Miyerkules sa Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ito ang pang-apat na sunod na titulo ng Mixers matapos pagharian ang 2013 PBA Governors’ Cup, ang 2014 Philippine Cup at ang Commissioner’s Cup.
Ang San Mig Coffee ang naging ikaapat na koponan na kumuha ng PBA Grand Slam matapos ang Crispa ni coach Baby Dalupan noong 1976 season at noong 1983 sa ilalim ni mentor Tommy Manotoc, ang San Miguel Beer ni Norman Black noong 1989 at ang Alaska ni Cone noong 1996.
“Eighteen years ago was such a special moment and I told the guys, you only get to do that once in your life and me and (assistant coach) Johnny (Abarrientos), we’ve been able to do it twice. That’s just two blessings,” sabi ni Cone.
Maliban kay Abarrientos, ang ilan pang miyembro ng Alaska team ni Cone na kumopo ng PBA Grand Slam noong 1996 ay sina Jeffrey Cariaso, coach nga-yon ng Ginebra, Kenneth Duremdes, Jojo Lastimosa, Bong Hawkins at Poch Juinio.
“I told the players, this is gonna be the best time of your life right now. This is the one you’ll always remember in your career, winning that Grand Slam. It’s a special moment for all of us,” ani Cone na nagsubi ng kanyang pang-18 PBA championship bilang coach.