Case of the Ex

Cone's superstars take on Aces' hustlers

Remember that ex-girlfriend/boyfriend of yours back in the day who you thought was the one you'd end up marrying someday? The one you'd spend crazy times with, experiment on (we'll leave this up to your imagination) and sincerely, at the bottom of your heart, feel will be the one who'd always be there for you as you would for them?

"The one that got away."

Well, we doubt that San Mig Coffee Mixers head coach Tim Cone feels the same for his former team of so many years, the Alaska Aces-- but there's undeniable history and a touch of bitterness there. Though they "broke up" in good terms and both parties have nothing but commendations, praises and the like for one another, the fact of the matter is that Cone left the Aces because he felt like they couldn't win anymore. They were (obviously) no match for the "richer" teams that would just treat independent ones as "farm teams," plucking superstars left and right even if they're offered the same amount of money (on paper anyway)

Cone wanted new challenges. He wanted to know if he still had it. But rather than coaching another underdog team, he went to a powerhouse that just needed a little Spring cleaning. He had legit superstars at his disposal in 2x PBA MVP James Yap, Marc Pingris and PJ Simon. He was the missing piece for the Mixers and he led them to a title in only his second conference while the Aces were running around the Araneta Coliseum like a bunch of headless chickens the whole of last season.

But there's an unwritten truth to relationships and life: that whatever hardship one party experiences one day, is bound to be replaced by blessings the other.

The Aces were able to rebuild during the offseason, zeroing in on high-caliber pieces via the PBA Draft and trades (Calvin Abueva, Raffy Reyes, JVee Casio, Dondon Hontiveros). Faith was restored.

It's almost like how a woman would go through a break-up: they'd crash and burn, lose themselves in whatever before finally turning it around (new haircut and all) and make their exes go crazy with how beautiful/ successful they are.

The Aces weren't supposed to win. They were supposed to keep on losing. They weren't supposed to contend. The team didn't have it. They didn't have the money. It always comes down to money in professional sports (or the world in general). We have high respect for Cone, he can say what he wants, but we know why he left the Aces.

If he wanted a challenge as a coach, he'd be coaching Barako Bull or some other cellar-dwelling squad with "no money" like the Aces. It's all good Coach, we understand.

Anyway, back to the Aces.

They're winning. And winning with a brand new identity far from Cone's Aces. They play like the Aces of old-- systematically and as a team. But there's a different feel to them these days. It's like you put in sprinkles of the old school Ginebra teams and a touch of Yeng Guiao. They don't shy away from big games, they're all gamers who love the spotlight. Abueva relishes the jeering. Baguio turns boos into cheers with his acrobatic forays. Casio simply drowns the opposition and their supporters with heart-crushing, fade-in threes.

And they're doing it with the same old, Cone-era Alaska class.

If the Mixers win versus the Aces on this level, it justifies Cone's move. Yes, the Mixers have won against the Aces and have practically PWNED them much of the last two seasons. But this is the first time they're squaring off in the Playoffs where bad mofos wake up in the morning to do bad mofo things.

Should the Aces win, they'll be able to exorcise their demons, their hang-ups. They'll move on from Cone and inch closer to a PBA title after what feels like eternity now. 

And you thought that the other series had bad blood.