BARANGAY Ginebra San Miguel Kings head coach Earl “Timothy” Cone believes the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup, scheduled to open this Sunday, is going to be a wide-open race.
The winningest PBA mentor said the absence of Kings’ Gregory Slaughter and San Miguel Beermen’s June Mar Fajardo will give other teams a shot at the title. The two teams, however, cannot be taken for granted amid the injuries.
“I think it’s a wide-open field. Probably for the first time in five, six years, the All-Filipino is up for grabs. I don’t think there’s a decided favorite out there. I think any team can step up,” Cone said.
He added: “I’m saying that in all honesty. You say that in previous conferences but at the back of your mind, you say, oh, it’s still San Miguel.”
“Without June Mar, San Miguel’s still gonna be a great team. They’re well-coached. (SMB coach) Leo (Austria) won five consecutive All-Filipino titles in a row so obviously he knows what he’s doing and will think of the right adjustments. You can’t discount them at all. But I still think it’s a little bit wide open at this point,” Cone said.
The Kings themselves are expected to make a serious crack at the crown jewel of the PBA following their triumph in the Governors’ Cup.
“Obviously we have a big hole in our team without Greg and we’re expecting it to be like that for the rest of the conference. We’re also gonna lose Joe for about maybe a month starting March 7, so two big guys out of our lineup and that’s gonna make it harder for us. But Japeth (Aguilar) is jumping to a whole new level, he showed that in a practice game,” Cone said.
He added: “We also got young rookies who I like, who will make a big impact; they’re still feeling their way but we’ll get there. We’re confident we’ll get there.”
The Kings open its Philippine Cup campaign against Blackwater Elite on March 14 in the league’s first out-of-town game of Season 45 in Balanga, Bataan.
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In an aim to level up the development of football in Negros Occidental, local-based Dolphins FC Football Academy has teamed up with Brazilian Jericho Football Academy to trail Negrense booters.
Managed by former national team player and AFC Licensed coach and instructor John Carmona, the academy will have its first module, consisting of 12 sessions on April 2, 2020, every Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at the Sta. Maria football field.
Among the age categories covered by the academy were 4, 5, and 6 years old; 7 and 8 years old; 9 and 10 years old; 11-13 years old; 14-15 years old; and 17-18 years old.
“The academy might not have a good facility and quality coaches but, it has a program on how to develop and evaluate the players’ skills, as well as the year-round activities,” Carmona said.
The academy is handled by technical coaches who are all AFC and PFF licensed coaches Bon Lagahit, John Moreno, Jonilda Delim, Reggie Miraflor, and Carmona.
Registration fee is at P2,500 inclusive Brazil jersey. Interested players may contact Carmona at 0906364791./PN
