TIM Cone has been implementing the triangle offense for decades, even with Gilas Pilipinas, and he has no plans of changing his ways regardless if some fans feel like the system is outdated.
But while he plans to stay the course, Cone doesn't mind the criticisms hurled at him knowing it's part of the territory.
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“I know people are complaining and upset about our triangle system,” Cone said on Saturday during the Power and Play program.
“And I just feel a couple of things. Number one, this is what I do best and what I’ve done throughout my whole career. So for me to go out and teach something that I don’t know doesn’t really make a lot of sense to me.
And number two, when we were beating Latvia, nobody said anything about the triangle. When we were beating New Zealand, when we won the Asian Games, nobody was saying anything about the triangle. And now, people are beating up the triangle again. It just seems to be a fad to be able to do that,” Cone said.
Cone has his share of critics on social media especially after Gilas Pilipinas went on a 0-2 start following defeats against Chinese Taipei and New Zealand in the group stage of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025.
Even prior to that, Cone has also been criticized for keeping a compact Gilas Pilipinas pool, and his perceived hesitance to add new players to the team.
Cone is aware of the feedbacks from fans – positive or negative – as he does go to social media to read the pulse of the people, although he admitted it has been tough as of late.
But the concurrent Barangay Ginebra coach said he has also read good point-of-views from fans.
“I read social media and I do it on purpose. I don’t mean to. I don’t like to do it. But I do it because I want to hear what people are saying, even though it’s difficult to read sometimes. But that’s the life pulse that I need to know,” Cone said.
“Some people have really good suggestions… I follow guys these guys and I’m interested in what they say because I think it’s important to try to see what other people are saying. But it can be difficult sometimes, but you have to swallow some stuff. But that comes with the job."
Even with his share of criticism, the 25-time PBA champion coach said he has no plans to slow down in fulfilling his role with Gilas Pilipinas and do the best he can to make the team competitive.
“It’s a tough job. It’s a tough job mostly because it’s a critical position. But I’ll continue to do it,” Cone added.
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