Mendoza: Cone can’t have his cake and eat it, too

Monday, December 19, 2011

LONG after the 2011 PBA Philippine Cup is over, Tim Cone might still probably be sulking.

I say this because of what happened to him in a span of only five days.

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On Dec. 14, he needed to pilot his B-MEG to victory past Powerade. A win would push his Llamados to the semifinals. He was heavily favored to pull this one out of the fire.

But he lost. And with that defeat, B-MEG allowed the door to be ajar for Powerade.

You know, the Tigers of Bo Perasol needed two wins to advance; on Dec. 14, Tim Cone and his Llamados were merely a game away from the semis. It was an advantage reserved for teams hitting the top ahead of the rest.

Thus, on Dec. 14, the ingredients of victory were all there for Tim Cone.

B-MEG was No. 1 in the seedings.

B-MEG was No. 1 in the eliminations.

B-MEG was No. 1 in shots made.

And, oh, yes, Tim Cone was celebrating his birthday on Dec/ 14.

Tim Cone had a date not only with his loved ones but also with history.

He made it to his family, but not his appointment with history.

Fate has a way with man—cruel at times, if not totally unfair.

And maybe, just maybe, Tim Cone had thought: It’s just one of those days when the gods were simply not in the mood for love.

But, alas, no.

Bo Perasol’s Tigers, with their Game 1 victory secured, had lived for another day. Suddenly, opportunity is knocking at the door.

On Dec. 18, Tim Cone and his B-MEG lost anew.

If the first setback was a dagger in the heart, this one was a back-stabber.

B-MEG had led in the middle quarters: 57-47 at the half, 87-78 after the third quarter.

Then Powerade tied the count at 115 to send the game into overtime – and into purgatory for B-MEG, and hell for Tim Cone.

It couldn’t be more hurtful, painful and mind-boggling than this.

Why it should happen to Tim Cone at such a time when he had just made the biggest leap of his life—leaving Alaska after 30 years or so of coaching the team in favor of B-MEG at the start of the season—is a question only the gods of the game can answer.

But no answer is forthcoming. The ball is round.

The mystery ends there. Always.

(alsol47@yahoo.com)