Tim Cone believes PBA’s 50th season could be the most competitive yet

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel head coach Tim Cone has experienced the highs and lows of the PBA since he started coaching in 1989, but believes that this forthcoming 50th season will be the most competitive yet.

Cone, the winningest coach in the league with 25 championships, analyzed his opponents and revealed who has the most chances of becoming contenders.

The San Miguel Beermen, who thwarted TNT Tropang 5G’s grand slam bid in the Philippine Cup last season, are the “measuring stick” for contenders in the league, Cone said.

“I think that they’re a team that you’re going to have to battle all the time. They’re going to be especially good come playoff time because of their execution. San Miguel with June Mar (Fajardo) is always going to be the measuring stick for everybody,” he said.

The former Alaska Aces coach also praised the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, who are looking to get over their semifinals hump last season.

“I think they’re playing at a really high level in terms of their system. They’ve got a really nice system. They run it really well. They execute it really well. They play beyond their talent,” he said.

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Another team looking to return to the league’s mountaintop is the Magnolia Hotshots, led by new head coach and Cone’s former player, LA Tenorio.

Cone knows firsthand of Tenorio’s brilliance as a player and is confident that it will carry on in his new role.

“I think LA is going to do wonderful things to Magnolia. I think they’ll be a contender as well. Young. There’s always young. He’s always there,” said Cone.

Aside from the top teams, Cone also believes that the NLEX Road Warriors will thrive this upcoming season under the tutelage of nine-time champion Jong Uichico.

Uichico formerly coached TNT, San Miguel, and Ginebra, and will seek to give NLEX its first championship alongside star Robert Bolick.

I think NLEX could be a big surprise. People forget that Jong is a championship coach. He’s won a lot of championships. You watch the development of (Robert) Bolick and the players around him.“I think you can see Jong’s imprint on those players and the way they play. Bolick is playing a lot better, I think,” he said.

A lot more team basketball. He’s maturing. That’s great for the league, that’s great for him, that’s great for their team. Because he is a premier player. It’s nice to see him being coached so well by Coach Jong,” added Cone.

With other teams like TNT and the Meralco Bolts still expected to be contenders, Cone believes it will be a tight race for a championship in the league’s 50th anniversary, which will start on Oct. 5, Sunday.

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