IT could be the cold weather.
Coach Tim Cone needed the assistance of deputy Richard del Rosario to give instructions from the bench in Barangay Ginebra’s 100-92 win over Meralco in Game 1 of their PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday.
Cone had a hoarse voice when he arrived at the Smart Araneta Coliseum for the main game of the day’s doubleheader.
READ Ginebra asserts mastery of Meralco, takes 1-0 series lead
Del Rosario said the veteran coach began to lose his voice in practice on Tuesday.
“Kahapon nagsisimula na siyang mawalan ng boses,” said Cone’s long-time assistant. “And kaninang umaga, he texted me na he needs my help sa game dahil nga hirap siyang magsalita.
So from the pre-game talk, to the course of the game, all the way to the post-match presser, it was Del Rosario who did most of the talking.
“Ako ang naging mouthpiece niya,” said the former PBA player.
But having worked together for many years now dating back from their time with the Purefoods franchise, Del Rosario has no problem getting Cone's message across to the team.
“Siguro sa panahon ngayon,” the Ginebra assistant coach offered when asked about Cone’s condition.
The win put the Kings ahead 1-0 in the best-of-three series and could cut short Meralco’s playoff appearance with a repeat on Friday.
Hopefully by then Cone will already have his voice back.
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