Webb to put own stamp on Star Hotshots in post-Cone era

MANILA, Philippines -- Incoming rookie coach Jason Webb chose not to dwell on the high expectations from Star Hotshots fans as he fills in the big shoes left by multi-titled coach Tim Cone starting next season.

“First of all, let’s be honest here, coach Tim is the greatest coach of the PBA, let’s admit it. The winningest coach, two grand slam titles and everything, so those shoes are not fillable, if there’s a term for that,” Webb said on Thursday during the formal presentation of the new coaches for Barangay Ginebra and Star at the San Miguel Corp. head office in Ortigas, Pasig.

Webb, who joined the Purefoods franchise as one of Cone’s assistant coaches in the middle of last year, will be handling the Hotshots starting in the 41st season, which opens on October.

Cone, on the other hand, has been appointed by management to succeed erstwhile coach Frankie Lim, who was axed after just one conference with the league’s most popular squad.

Known for his hustle, aggressive approach in the game during his six-year stint as a PBA player, Webb promised to develop a Star ball club that puts premium on defense, while applying some of the principles of the patented triangle offense of Cone.

“When I come in, I have to do what’s truly me. As a player before, I’m very, very aggressive, high intensity, so it’s gonna be something like that,” shared the son of PBA legend and former Philippine senator Freddie Webb.

“Offensively, we’re probably not gonna run the triangle, but the principles of the triangle, we will get some of them into our offense,” he added.

Webb faces the challenging task of bringing the Hotshots back to the top of the league after failing to defend all their three PBA titles last season.

Star though still have the veteran championship core of James Yap, Peter June Simon, Marc Pingris, Joe Devance and Mark Barroca to build on under Webb.