BARANGAY Ginebra San Miguel Head Coach Tim Cone was gracious to share the Outstanding Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Coach of the Bubble trophy to a counterpart he thought was just as deserving.
The most accomplished coach in league history acknowledged Phoenix’s Topex Robinson for the way he whipped the Fuel Masters into a competitive team in so short a time during the Philippine Cup bubble in Clark late last year.
Phoenix was the second seeded team going into the playoffs behind Barangay Ginebra and fell just short of making the Finals for the first time in franchise history when it lost to TnT Tropang Giga in a do-or-die Game 5 of their semifinals.
“He did such a tremendous job in the bubble coaching. So I just want to acknowledge him and share this award with him and that’s Topex Robinson,” said Cone in his acceptance speech during the virtual PBA Press Corps Awards Night on Sunday at the TV5 Media Center.
“Topex did a tremendous job with his team as well, so Topex this one is for you as well,” Cone said. “All the best.”
The Kings beat the Tropang Giga in five games to win the league’s unique bubble championship. But despite his team’s success, Cone thought Robinson would win the special award given out by the group which covers the PBA beat.
“I thought he was going to win the award. I’m quite surprised to win [the award] because Topex took on a team, integrated [Calvin] Abueva, and did so many good things and went all the way to the end. They just lost out in the last few mins of that TnT series,” Cone told the ceremony presented by Cignal TV.
Cone was among the few honorees who personally received their awards, along with 2019 Virgilio “Baby” Dalupan Coach of the Year Leo Austria of San Miguel Beer, 2019 Danny Floro Executive of the Year PBA Board Chairman Ricky Vargas and Mr. Executive Commissioner Willie Marcial.