MANILA, Philippines - Para kay San Mig Coffee head coach Tim Cone, ang 2014 PBA Grand Slam ang pinakamahirap na makamit kumpara sa unang apat na nakuha ng Crispa, San Miguel Beer at Alaska.
Ito ay dahil na rin sa masikip na iskedyul mula sa 2014 PBA Philippine Cup, sa Commissioner’s Cup at sa Governors’ Cup bilang pagsuporta sa paghahanda ng Gilas Pilipinas.
“I don’t know if it was the hardest Grand Slam to win out of the five, but it’s got to be one of the hardest. The schedule, the consecutive games every day,” sabi ng 56-anyos na si Cone.
“We had two days off in June and somehow we figured out to make it to this last day and now, we have a chance for a break. I’m consumed with it every day, and now, I’m gonna go crazy without anything to do. It will be a nice crazy though,” dagdag pa nito.
Kinopo ng Mixers ang PBA Grand Slam matapos talunin ang Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 92-89, sa ‘winner-take-all’ Game Five noong Miyerkules sa Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ito ang ikaapat na sunod na korona ng San Mig Coffee makaraang magkampeon sa 2013 PBA Governors’ Cup, 2014 Philippine Cup at sa Commissioner’s Cup.
Ang SMC franchise rin ang naging ikaapat na koponan na sumikwat ng PBA Grand Slam matapos ang Crispa ni coach Baby Dalupan noong 1976 season at noong 1983 sa ilalim ni mentor Tommy Manotoc, ang San Miguel Beer ni Norman Black noong 1989 at ang Alaska ni Cone noong 1996.
Kaya naman sa Game Five ay pinaalalahanan ni Cone ang kanyang mga players.
“Eighteen years ago was such a special moment and I told the guys, you only get to do that once in your life and me and (assistant coach) Johnny (Abarrientos), we’ve been able to do it twice. That’s just two blessings,” sabi ni Cone.
Pambihirang makasikwat ng PBA Grand Slam ang isang koponan dahil sa matinding kompetisyon sa tatlong komperensya.
Naibulsa ng American mentor ang kanyang pang-18 PBA championship bilang coach at kumpiyansang masusundan pa ito para sa darating na 40th season ng pro league.