Aces still a force even without Cone

FROM one ``Triangle’ to another.

While the presence of long-time coach Tim Cone will surely be missed
over at the Alaska bench, the system that has become the team’s bread
and butter the past 22 years – Triangle Offense – stays on as
long-time assistant Joel Banal takes over the coaching reins left
behind by the multi-titled American mentor.

Although Banal had one-time been a head coach in the Philippine
Basketball Association (PBA) himself, his association with Cone as a
trusted lieutenant has been well-known that both are always connected
with each other.

But following the departure of Cone, and his subsequent acceptance of
the B-Meg coaching job, both will now have to go their separate ways.

Banal however, said Cone’s influence within the Aces won’t diminish,
especially in relation with the Triangle Offense, a system that
produced 13 championships for the franchise and tied it with the
legendary Crispa Redmanizers as the second winningest team in the rich
history of Asia’s pioneering professional league.

“My style is a combination of structure and unstructured systems,”
said Banal, who won for Talk `N Text its first ever league
championship during the 2003 All-Filipino conference.

Even without Cone, the coach with the most number of games won in PBA
annals, the Aces still kept the core of the team that won the 2009
Fiesta Cup championship, players like L.A. Tenorio, Cyrus Baguio,
Sonny Thoss, Tony De La Cruz, Mark Borboran, Samigue Eman and Brandon
Cablay.

Only last year, they acquired big man Jay-R Reyes, Paolo Bugia, Wesley
Gonzales and Bonbon Custodio, and now rookie recruits Mac Baracael,
Eric Salamat, Julius Pasculados and Ariel Mepana.

Tenorio, the acknowledged heart and soul of the Aces, said in as much
as the team will miss the company of their former beloved mentor,
Banal is definitely an excellent choice as Cone’s replacement.

“With coach Joel, it’s practically the same system. He’s been coach
Tim’s assistant for many years so adjusting is not hard for us,” said
the former Ateneo star considered by many as among the top three point
guards in the league today.

Tenorio conceded that he’s where at his career right now due to Cone.

“It was he who molded me into the PBA player that I am right now,” he said.

But come the season-opening Philippine Cup which formally kicks off on
Oct. 2 at the Araneta Coliseum, there’s no question as to where and to
who his loyalty will be.

 “We want to get the (All-Filipino) crown. We want to show that we can
do it for coach Joel,” added the cerebral Alaska playmaker.

The Aces open the 37th season by testing outright the mettle of the
Barangay Ginebra Kings on Oct. 9, and then plunge into action against
their former coach and the Llamados in an interesting Oct. 12
encounter. (pr)