Ni Ernest Hernandez

KONTROBERSYAL ang naging resulta ng panalo ng Meralco Bolts sa Ginebra Kings sa Game 3 ng 2017 PBA Governors’ Cup Finals nitong Miyerkules.

Hindi ang pamamaraan ng pagkapanalo ang naging usapin bagkus ang aksiyon ni Barangay Ginebra head coach Tim Cone nang tumanggi itong makipag-kamayan kay Bolts mentor Norman Black.

Lubhang nadismaya si Cone sa paghingi ng timeout ni Black, sa kabila ng katotohanang kanila na ang panalo. Para sa kanya, wala na itong saysay.

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“He didn’t shake my hand because he was mad about the last timeout,” pahayag ni Black. “That’s his problem, not mine.”

Tangan ni Cone ang marka sa PBA bilang ‘winningest coach’ hawak ang 19 kampeonato, walong korona ang layo sa marka ni Black at apat sa dating record na 15 ng namayapang si Virgilio ‘Baby’ Dalupan.

“Well, I think everybody knows that Tim is the all-time in wins and championships in the PBA. I have never, in my life, made any effort to tell him how to coach his team. So, I never need him to tell me how to coach mine,” sambit ni Black.

Iba’t ibang opinyon naman ang naibigay ng mga player.

“Siguro Coach Tim has something to say about that. Sila na lang magusap ngayon. Sila naman yung magkalaban. We are not sure kung ano napagusapan nila after that. Again, it is between Coach Tim and Coach Norman. Si Coach Tim na makakasagot noon,” sambit ni Kings guard LA Tenorio.

Ngunit, para matuldukan ang isyu, kaagad namang magpahayag ng paumanhin si Cone.

“I regret my actions after Game 3 ended. Yes, I was upset about the timeout that was called late in the game but there is no one in the PBA that I respect more than Norman Black,” pahayag ni Cone sa kanyang mensahe sa media.

“I got caught up in the moment and could’ve handled it differently. I apologize and will do so to him personally.”