By Rey Joble

ALASKA coach Tim Cone had to wait for his favorite import Rosell Ellis to fulfill yet another milestone in the Philippine Basketball Association?and that?s for the all-time number of wins for a coach in the country?s premier pro league.

With 602 wins in 20 years of coaching in the PBA, Cone still believes his record pales in comparison with his idol Baby Dalupan, whose previous record for most number of victories has just been shattered by the longest-tenured mentor in the history of Asia?s first professional league.

?It took me 20 years to reach that 602 wins, but statistically wise, I think Baby has a better winning percentage than mine,? humbly said Cone, moments after steering Alaska to a 94-84 triumph over the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants in the Motolite-Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

?If you add his number of wins from the MICAA [Manila Industrial Commercial Athletic Association], his record would be unsurpassable,? Cone added.

Cone was right. Dalupan had a better winning percentage of 63.3 percent compared to his 56.7-percent record. And the man called as The Maestro achieved his feat for only 17 seasons, with coaching breaks in between 1982 and 1983.   

But Cone?s achievement last night was a great time to look back at his checkered career that includes 12 championships in the pro league, making him the winningest mentor among active coaches in the pro league, and one of only four coaches to complete a rare grand-slam.

His remarkable feat overshadowed the Aces? first victory this conference, snapping a five-game losing skid dating back to the finals of the Philippine Cup, where they lost to the Talk N Text Tropang Texters in seven games.

There were no victory cigars to light up like Red Auerbach of the fabled Bostion Celtics used to do. There were no grand celebrations either. Instead, the multi-titled American mentor entered the press office, sat down quietly and grabbed the microphone. He didn?t wait for sportswriters to ask questions and did his usual sharing of useful information?from Ellis? sister, who has become one of the strongest women in the world, his recollection of Dalupan?s records and his share of experiences watching the Toyota-Crispa games.

He said his feat last night was the best time to thank the Alaska organization, all the people he worked with from Fred Uytengsu, Joaqui Trillo and all the great players he coached for  two decades in the PBA.

Ellis? return to action had a 360-degree effect on the squad.

The workhorse of an import provided the intensity and leadership expected of him as he finished with 26 points and 16 rebounds. But more than his statistics, it was his overall impact of making his teammates a lot better, which resulted to the team?s first victory in two months.

Purefoods came into the game coming off one of its worst defeats in franchise history against sister team San Miguel Beer Friday night, 103-122. Against the Aces, they found themselves battling a team that has suddenly become a defense-oriented squad with Ellis in tow.

The Giants trailed most of the way, but they were in the thick of the fight after James Yap buried a potential four-point play with 1:54 left in the game. Although he missed the bonus charity, Yap brought the Giants to within four, 82-86.

But LA Tenorio answered back with his own triple and added three more free throws to finally seal the win for the Aces.

The Scores:

Alaska 94?Ellis 26, De la Cruz 20, Tenorio 15, Miller 12, Hugnatan 9, De Vance 4, Thoss 4, Fonacier 2, Ferriols 2

Purefoods 84?Raymundo 19, Yap J. 18, Simon 16, Hamilton 10, Villanueva 10, Canaleta 5, Allado 4, Yap R. 2, Vergara 0, Alvarez 0.

Quarterscores: 26-23, 44-41, 70-64, 94-84.