THE 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup Finals clash between TNT and Barangay Ginebra will mark the seventh time that Chot Reyes and Tim Cone will square off in the finals. Pals and colleagues since their days with Alaska in the early 1990s, the two have essayed memorable finals clashes for decades, although it will be the first time in 12 years that the two will meet in the finals again - and a first for Cone as Gin Kings head coach.
In this article, we take a look at their past finals match-ups.
1994 Commissioner’s Cup
The first time the two coaches met was in the 1994 Commissioner’s Cup with Reyes’ Purefoods TJ Hotdogs defeating Cone’s Alaska. Reyes overwhelmed Cone in their first finals match-up since Reyes decided to go to Purefoods after serving as assistant coach to Alaska for a couple of years.
Ken Redfield, Alvin Patrimonio, and Jerry Codinera were the lead forces of the team. But in the title-clincher, the star was Glenn Capacio, who had 21 points in their 94-79 win in Game Five. It served as Reyes’ second career PBA crown after taking the 1993 All-Filipino title as a rookie coach.
1996 All-Filipino Cup
Cone got his first against Reyes during the 1996 All-Filipino Cup when Alaska won the first of three titles during its grand slam year. The Milkmen clinched the series in Game Five with a 93-92 win against Purefoods in overtime at the Araneta Coliseum.
Jeff Cariaso drained the marginal two free throws with 0.6 seconds left, drawing a foul from Bong Ravena, who was whistled for reaching in while attempting a steal on the inbounds play. Cone went on to win the grand slam that season, becoming the fourth coach to do such feat in league history.
2002 All-Filipino Cup
It was a Christmas Day to remember for Reyes in 2022 after he clinched the All-Filipino Cup crown that night, but with a different team, when Coca-Cola defeated Alaska, 78-63, in Game Four to win the best-of-five finals. What made the title victory extra special was the fact that Coca-Cola was playing in its first season in the PBA.
Rudy Hatfield captured the Finals MVP for Coca-Cola, which dealt with the absence of, ironically, former Alaska players Johnny Abarrientos and Jeff Cariaso due to injuries, while also handing Reyes a PBA co-Coach of the Year plum with Purefoods' Ryan Gregorio.
2003 Invitational Cup
After the Christmas 2022 defeat, Alaska got back at Coca-Cola the following season when it ruled the 2003 Invitational Championship, a tournament that also included three foreign teams and the Philippine national team. In the end, the Aces defeated the Tigers in the best-of-three series, taking Game Three with a 91-86 victory, capping off a run that saw Cone’s team win 11 out of the 12 games of the tournament.
2008-09 Philippine Cup
Starting with the Invitationals, the remaining match-up between Reyes and Cone in the finals all went the full distance including the 2008-09 Philippine Cup Finals, which saw Reyes win his first title for Talk ‘N Text at the expense of Cone and Alaska via a 93-89 victory in Game Seven.
Mark Cardona was adjudged as the Finals MVP after scoring 23 points in the closed-out match. Later that season, Reyes captured his fourth Coach of the Year title from the PBA Press Corps.
2012 Commissioner’s Cup
Cone evened things out with Reyes in the finals during the 2012 Commissioner’s Cup in a Game Seven that will go down as one of the most unforgettable moments in PBA history. B-Meg emerged victorious over TNT with a 90-84 overtime decision, giving Cone his third title over Reyes in their sixth finals showdown.
READ A lot has happened since Cone, Chot last met in PBA Finals in 2012
The coaching match-up somewhat became secondary in the final moments when Denzel Bowles took the spotlight. With 1.2 seconds remaining in regulation and in a win-or-go-home situation, Bowles sank two crucial free throws to force a 76-76 deadlock and send Game Seven into overtime. Bowles finished with 39 points in the thrilling conclusion to the series, with James Yap capturing the Finals MVP.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
