CONE, ELIBS KAY CAGUIOA

CLARK – Kung maibabalik lamang daw ang panahon, mas gusto ni Barangay Ginebra coach na ma-coach ang Ginebra veteran na si Mark Caguioa noong kalakasan pa nito sa paglalaro sa koponan.

Sa isang panayam, sinabi ni Cone na hanga at bilib siya sa durability ng kalahati ng pamosong “Fast and Furious” ng Gin Kings at dinagdag niya na isa sa kanyang mga regret ay ang hindi niya na-coach si Caguioa sa pagsisimula nito sa PBA.

Nitong nakaraan, nakopo ni Caguioa ang distinction bilang unang PBA player na nakapaglaro ng 18 seasons kung saan naungusan na niya ang 17 seasons nina Alvin Patrimonio at Harvey Carey.

Patungo na si Caguioa sa Hall of Fame matapos niyang magkamada ng 10,073 puntos mula noong nasa era pa ni legendary Robert Jaworski papunta sa kasalukuyang koponan ng Ginebra.

“He is a special person and I didn’t know that before I came here. When I was on the other teams, I thought he was kind of arrogant,” saad ni Cone. “Now that I know him, I could only imagine how it was like to have him during the prime of his career, when he was putting up big numbers and winning championships.”

At kahit na hindi na si Caguioa ang main option sa opensa, nananatili pa rin ang kanyang kontribusyon sa koponan sa pamamagitan ng pag-alalay sa kanyang mga mas nakababatang teammates.

“Only special guys like him do special things. That’s a testament for his character and playing ability,” sabi ni Cone. “We didn’t have one single thought of retiring him. We know he’s making us better, and he’s making the young guys play better.”

“I would love coaching him when he was younger. But I’m enjoying having him now that he’s older.”