It’s official: Cone to Ginebra, Webb to Star
Tim Cone promised he’ll build a team that the team management and the fans will be proud of as he was formally introduced as the new head coach of the Barangay Ginebra Kings Thursday.
Jason Webb, meanwhile, vowed he’ll do his best to be worthy of the trust and confidence by the management after he was officially named as Cone’s successor over at Star.
Cone is bringing with him chief assistant Richard del Rosario in his transfer to Ginebra. Staying with Webb at Star are Johnny Abarrientos and Mon Jose.
Cone and Webb were presented to the sports media by Ginebra president Rey Marquez and Purefoods/Star boss Francisco “Butch” Alejo at the SMC Complex in Mandaluyong.
“We’ll try to cover our weaknesses and build our strength,” said Cone. “I find Ginebra with a strong lineup but I find it rather imbalance. We’ll see what we can do.”
The 18-time PBA champion coach is sad to be leaving Star but excited to join the league’s most popular ball club.
“One of the great things coming to Purefoods is to follow the legend of (Baby) Dalupan. And with Ginebra, I’m following the legend of Sonny Jaworski,” Cone said.
“I don’t have to worry motivating them (Kings). The crowd motivates them,” said Cone in being with Ginebra and the Ginebra multitudes. “Playing against Ginebra, you say keep the crowd out of the game. Now, I’m really excited. How can we let the crowd help us and create momentum for us. They’re just a great motivating tool.”
Cone is as excited to be with the guys he’s handling now.
“I’m a big man’s coach. Having Greg (Slaughter) and Japeth (Aguilar) there will be wonderful. And you can’t dismissed the LA Tenorios and the Mark Caguioas. They’ll gonna be there too. It will be an equal offense. We’ll control the tempo,” Cone said.
Webb doesn’t intend to stick with triangle offense at Star. “We’ll just use some principles of it,” he said.
“I’ll try to be the best coach for the current scenario,” said Webb, who at the start of PBA Season 40 was still sitting on the PBA TV panel. “Ang bilis ng pangyayari.”
He is again following the footstep of his father, former Sen. Freddie Webb, a former PBA player (with Tanduay) and former coach (with Tanduay and Shell).
Jason, a big guard from La Salle, had a six-season stint as a PBA player, suiting up with Sta. Lucia Realty and Alaska Milk. (SB)
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