Cone: Chot’s dribble-drive system works

LAPU-LAPU CITY – Two-time PBA grand slam champion coach Tim Cone, an exponent of the triangle offense, does believe coach Chot Reyes’ dribble-drive motion offense is a weapon that can work for Team Phl-Gilas against its toughest foes in the international stage.

Cone, who steered the Philippine Centennial team to a bronze-medal finish in the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok, sees the wisdom of Reyes’ system even as its basic principles won’t rely so much on reigning three-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo.

The system, the same pattern Gilas Pilipinas employed in its fighting performances in the 2014 FIBA World Cup, focuses on spreading the offensive players in the half court to help dribble penetration by the backcourt players.

In the Gilas-PBA Mindanao showdown in Cagayan de Oro, noticeable was Fajardo getting limited touches.

“I watched the game with Jorge (Gallent) and we saw June Mar go up and down the floor in a long stretch without touching the ball,” said Cone.

But the multi-titled coach, here in Cebu for another duty as PBA All-Star coach, doesn’t see it as counterproductive for the team, believing Reyes is being realistic.

“June Mar won’t be dominating in Asia as he is in the PBA,” Cone pointed out.

Versus China, Iran and even Korea, Fajardo will face sevenfoot matchups. Then there will be the giants of Australia and New Zealand, dominant teams in the Oceania region which are now merged with the Asian teams in the FIBA Asia Cup.

Fajardo, himself, doesn’t see any problem deferring to his teammates.