THROUGH the years, Marc Pingris and Tim Cone developed a deep bond that they managed to maintain even after the two no longer belong under the same team.
Unknown to many though, the friendship between player and coach didn't get off on the right foot.
The 38-year-old Pingris vividly remembered how furious he was on the champion coach when he wasn't fielded in during a game in their early days together with B-Meg (now Magnolia).
"Hindi ako ginamit so nagsalita ako nung time na yun. Nagalit ako. Sabi ko hindi ako binabayaran dito para umupo lang. Gusto ko talaga maglaro," Pingris related in one of the episodes of the show Hotseat.
But having dealt with a lot of players' ego before, Cone knew where Pingris was coming off.
Sponsored content:
He quietly talked to the veteran forward and explained how he's trying to process things for the Llamados in his first season with the franchise.
"Kinausap niya ako, sabi niya 'just trust me. Alam ko ang ginagawa ko, may gusto lang akong gawin," Pingris' recalled the words of Cone back then.
That was enough to bring Pingris back to his senses.
Next day in practice, he quickly apologized to Cone and his coaching staff.
"Pagdating ko ng practice, lahat ng coaches tahimik. Isa-isa yun nag-sorry ako. Sabi ko mali ako," Pingris said.
Sponsored content:
The incident it turned out, was just a mere bump on the road.
Once Pingris and the rest of the Llamados warmed up to Cone and his 'Triangle' system, everything came out fine.
From the time Cone came on board, the Purefoods franchise won a total of five championships from 2011-2015, including a grand slam in 2014.
"Nung nakita na talaga namin, grabe. Hindi naman sa pagyayabang, kahit nakapikit ka, alam namin yung ginagawa namin sa isa't isa," said Pingris of that champion unit which he co-lead along with two-time MVP James Yap and Peter June Simon.
"Ang sarap maglaro, wala kang kapressure-pressure. Papunta ka pa lang ng game, yung kumpiyansa mo nandoon na."
Cone and Pingris parted ways when the veteran mentor was shipped to Barangay Ginebra.
Even then, they remain close to each other until today, their friendship fully cemented by that little misunderstanding between them a few years ago. (RG)
