Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone
Special Report by Juan Karlo Libunao
Cone shares winning culture that leads to championships
The winningest coach in the history of the Philippine Basketball Association has entered the Finals once again and will try to win his 26th title while leading Ginebra to the Promised Land.
In an exclusive interview with Scoreline.ph, Coach Tim Cone shared how he established a winning culture to every team that he handled.
"I think it really comes down to trying to establish a culture. You know, trying to get a feel for how players feel when they come into the room. You know, do they feel like it's a hard working place? Do they feel like they can come in and withstand failure if they fail or whatever? But we just try to create a culture in which, you know, players can grow," said Cone.
The multi-champion mentor also shared that if the players feel like they're growing and getting better every day, then a coach can elevate his team to different levels and hopes that will lead their team to a championship.
And handling the Ginebra squad that he has right now, Cone believes that they are a culture-based team that pays attention to details and defense.
"You know, we really want to be attentive to details. I think we're number one, we're defensive minded. We have a defensive mindset that comes, that's priority number one."
Cone also said that there are four things that they wanted to focus on — attention to details, defensive mindset, being empathetic, and being accountable to what you do.
"We want to be attentive to detail. We want to be empathetic to our teammates. In other words, we want, you know, we want to care about our teammates, care about the success of your teammate. And we want to make sure that everybody has accountability."
Defense wins championships.
The statement is what coach Tim also believed in ever since he started coaching. He already brought that belief when he entered the league in 1989.
"It defines your character," said Cone about defense. "You don't get any glory for defense. You get glory for offense, for scoring. The crowd goes ooh and ah when you score. But now everybody makes mention of the defense. So if you give yourself to the defense, that shows your character, that you're giving yourself to the team. And so we believe that if we're constantly doing that, then we're going to be a really good team. And we're going to have a chance to win championships. So yes, defense does win championships."
Finals rematch against TNT.
Now that Coach Tim is in the Finals against TNT once more, he said that the Tropang Giga will be a tough nut to crack especially that his counterpart coach Chot Reyes knows him very well and the matchups will be intriguing especially the battle between two great imports.
It will also be a contrasting style of play for both teams as Ginebra plays more of a triangle-offense while TNT runs through the dribble, drive, and flow. With that being said, Cone believes that will be really a treat for the fans.
Asked if the series might be long, coach Tim said that they always plan for a long series but there's no guarantee that it will be a long one.
"You figure that because the teams are even, it should go six or seven games, but there's never any guarantee that it's going to happen. Sometimes a team can get on a roll during a series and put a couple of games together and put the pressure on the other team. But I think from a coaching standpoint, you always plan it to be a long series."
Justin Brownlee as an import.
Cone has so much praise for his prized import. He said that JB is a nice guy and such a great teammate, humble, quiet, and loved by his teammates. But there's a deep part of the Gilas naturalized player that is really competitive and always likes to win.
Brownlee not just makes himself better but also his teammates. As coach Tim said, he thinks Justin loves to win to see his teammates happy.
"I don't think he really ever plays for himself. He plays for his teammates to see them happy. I think that's such a unique skill and one of the reasons he's truly the best or if not the best, one of the best."
Cone even asks the people to enjoy the contributions of Brownlee in the world of basketball as he is nearing the tail-end of his career.
"He's tapering towards the end of his career right now. So those young people who get to see him now, you may not get to see him four or five years from now. So take advantage of what you're seeing. It's almost like watching Michael Jordan live. I used to watch Michael Jordan live. That was an amazing thing. Now the young people can only think about Michael Jordan but they ever saw him play. But now's your opportunity. You can go out and see Justin. So my message is to take advantage of that now. Go watch Justin play. And against R.H.J., that's going to be a classic matchup," Cone in complementing his import.
Finals and championships might be familiar words to coach Tim Cone already but he keeps on learning the game he loves that is why winning culture is just second to none to the most decorated mentor in PBA history.
Game 1 of the Finals will be on Sunday, October 27, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
News
The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is pushing a landmark plan to open government-run golf courses to children aged 15 and below—completely free of charge.
Initiated by PSC chairman Patrick Gregorio, the proposal would give youth access to select courses, including Camp John Hay in Baguio and Intramuros Golf Club in Manila, starting at noon daily, seven days a week.
The plan, now with the Office of the President, awaits approval as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. consults with golf industry stakeholders.
While some military-run courses may resist concerns about income and congestion, Gregorio believes the long-term benefits for grassroots golf outweigh the drawbacks. “If we want golf to grow, we have to let more Filipino kids touch a golf club—not just the ones who can afford it,” he said.
With golf’s high costs limiting access, the PSC hopes the initiative will spark broader participation, open doors to scholarships, and develop future champions from all backgrounds.
The Philippine women’s softball team—the Blu Girls—are eyeing nothing less than gold as they prepare to defend their title at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games this December in Thailand.
After softball’s two-edition absence from the SEA Games, head coach Ana Santiago said the team’s hunger for victory remains undiminished. “Nothing less than gold ang goal natin,” Santiago declared, recalling the Blu Girls’ last gold win at home in 2019.
A dominant force since 1979, the Blu Girls have collected 11 SEA Games golds and are returning as favorites. Team captain Charlotte Sales and power hitter Roma Cruz, both SEA Games debutantes, expressed confidence in the squad’s readiness, especially after a productive training camp in Taiwan.
“Malaking bagay ‘yung training camp namin. Nakatulong sa teamwork, communication, and ‘yung samahan,” Sales shared.
Cruz, who smashed five homers at the Asian Cup in China last July, is determined to prove herself on the SEA Games stage. “Gusto ko ipakita na kaya ko makipagsabayan,” she said.
While the Blu Girls topped Indonesia for gold in 2019, Santiago sees Singapore as this year’s biggest threat, citing their extensive preparations in Australia, Japan, and Taiwan.
The Philippines opens against Singapore on December 15, then faces Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia before the gold medal game on December 20.
Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines president John Henry Lhuillier’s marching order is clear: go for double gold in both women’s and men’s softball. “That’s the goal,” Santiago affirmed.
Cambodia has withdrawn from eight sports in the upcoming Southeast Asian Games in Thailand due to security concerns amid ongoing border tensions, an Olympic official confirmed last November 27.
The decision comes after intermittent military clashes between Cambodia and Thailand throughout the year, including a deadly July outbreak that left over 40 people dead.
Despite a US-brokered truce, diplomatic strains remain.
The National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC) informed the Southeast Asian Games Federation that it would skip events such as football, petanque, wrestling, judo, and karate, citing “significant security concerns” for its athletes and officials.
NOCC secretary-general Vath Chamroeun emphasized that the move was strictly about safety, reducing the delegation from 333 to 150 athletes competing in 13 sports.
The pullout is aimed at making monitoring easier amid heightened tensions over overlapping claims to ancient temples along the Cambodia-Thailand border.
The Philippines will field its largest-ever delegation for the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, sending 1,600 athletes, coaches, and officials to compete in 50 sports at the biennial meet during the 33rd 2025 send-off at Rizal Memorial Coliseum held last November 28.
Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio said the decision to send a record-sized team was rooted in prioritizing exposure and athlete development over immediate results
“When you send a delegation, they learn. When you send a big delegation, they gain confidence and experience,” Gregorio said. “We want our athletes’ mindset and skills to toughen up so they can compete at the Asian Games and the Olympics.”
The 2025 SEA Games will feature 574 medal events, three demonstration sports—air sports, flying disc, and tug of war—and MMA as a value-added sport.
Gregorio emphasized that investing in athletes’ experience now lays the groundwork for future success. “We’re giving our athletes the exposure they need to compete better in the future,” he said.
The Philippines will target podium finishes in medal-rich sports including basketball, esports, boxing, weightlifting, jiu-jitsu, and athletics when the SEA Games open on December 9.
In a heartfelt send-off, the senate committee on sports, Senator Bong Go, reminded the country’s national athletes of the immense pride and hope they bring as they head into international competitions.
“Always remember, you carry not just your name, but the spirit of every Filipino,” Go said. “When you win, the whole nation wins with you. No matter the result, you already carry the pride and admiration of the Filipino people.”
Reassuring the athletes of his unwavering support, the official added, “My office is always open for you. If you need anything—whether a solution or a problem—just come to my office.”
As the delegation prepared to embark on their journey, he encouraged them to fight with determination and honor the country. “Fight with all your heart. Bring home the bacon. The honor you bring to the country—you will carry it for the rest of your life. It is engraved in the history of the Philippines.”
He closed by urging the team to give their best, stay united, and make every Filipino proud: “Show the world how strong and united Filipinos can be.”
