• CONE NAILS 1ST WIN OVER FORMER TEAM

Coach Tim Cone earned his first win outside the Alaska Milk organization at the expense of Alaska
Milk itself.

Cone prevailed over his former team in their first meeting after their parting with the B-Meg
Llamados coming from behind to beat the Aces, 81-75, in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta
Coliseum Wednesday night.

“Nag-usap kaming mga players. Alam namin na gustong-gustong nilang talunin si coach Tim. Ayaw
namin mapahiya ang coach namin,” said B-Meg top gun James Yap.

The whole B-Meg organization and the Llamados’ fans rallied behind Cone, showing up wearing
necktie to best demonstrate their support to their new coach.

Cone tried hard to take it just as another game but admitted feeling tremendous pressure.

“I felt it and I didn’t want to put that on the players,” said Cone, approaching the Alaska
bench to hug coach Joel Banal and team manager Joaqui Trillo before the game.

After the game, Cone again approached his former team then finally let out a big sigh in what he
called “a tough day.”

Yap, Josh Urbiztondo and Kerby Raymundo had a big part making Cone’s day.

Yap led all scorers with 20 points while Urbiztondo and Raymundo delivered at crunch time.

“What I like the most about this team is that they’re veterans. They don’t panic. They’re
calm and collected,” said Cone of the Llamados who scored their first win in the season after
losing their first game versus the Petron Blaze Boosters, 69-73.

The Aces, meanwhile, reeled to a second straight loss.

The Llamados fought back from an early 15-point deficit and beat out the Aces at endgame on crucial
baskets by Urbiztondo and Raymundo.

Urbiztondo banged away three straight treys that opened up a 75-68 lead for the Llamados entering
the last three minutes of play.

Then the Aces were waging an endgame upheaval when Raymundo drove off Sonny Thoss for a key twinner
making it 79-75 for B-Meg with time down to 20 seconds.

The Aces eventually yielded the game with LA Tenorio misfiring a three-point attempt in the ensuing
play.

Alaska came out with its guns ablaze, taking the first quarter at 21-9 then having its 15-point
spread at 24-9.

B-Meg came alive in the second quarter with Yap firing 10 points and team rallying to within to,
35-37, at the half. (SB)