MANILA, Philippines - No less than the architect of Alaska's first 13 championships in the PBA led the personalities around the league in congratulating the Aces for sweeping the Cebuana Lhuillier PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals at the expense of crowd favorite Brgy. Ginebra San Miguel Kings last night.
Tim Cone, who left the Aces in an emotional and bittersweet break-up last year to join the San Mig Coffee Mixers, took to Twitter his congratulatory message to his former team. Other league personalities including former Talk n Text head coach and now Gilas Pilipinas mentor Chot Reyes joined him in admiration on how the Wilfred Uytengsu-franchise quickly built a championship team in such a short span of time since the departure of Cone.
The Aces proved that they are the best team all throughout the conference by winning 18 of their 22 games this conference, including six straight in the playoffs or since dropping the series opener in the semifinals. They went to the Finals at the expense of Cone and his Mixers via 3-1 series win in the semifinals. This came after the franchise lost their first 10 meetings with Cone since he left Alaska.