FOR more than 20 years, Alaska and its resident coach Tim Cone look inseparable.

But will their partnership come to an end, especially after the Aces' KFC-Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup best-of-seven championship series debacle?

Cone, owner of 12 league championships – all from Alaska – and architect of his team's grand-slam feat in 1996, believes there's no guarantee for him now, after being swept in the finals by his youthful counterpart Ryan Gregorio and the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants.

"In an organization like us, there's no guarantee. Even if you lose by one point or 20 points, the bottom line there is that you still lost games. What more when you're swept in the finals?" Cone told Standard Today in a telephone interview.

It was the only sweep experienced by the American mentor in more than two decades of coaching Alaska. But the dynasty he created the past decade and the personal and team successes he gave Alaska was coupled with some heartbreaking setbacks, as well.

"I swept a team and was swept as well. I fought in a short series and a seven-game series and won and lost quite a number of them. In 20 years of coaching, you will experience a lot of those," he added.

Cone, the longest-tenured mentor and winningest bench tactician among active coaches in the league, has an expiring contract in July and even him is unsure of what future lies ahead for him.

But one thing is certain. Cone would love to coach more games and has no plans of slowing down.

"I love coaching and I would love to coach any team," added Cone, who is second in the all-time list for most number of championships, behind his idol, the legendary Baby Dalupan. "But if Alaska would want me to be there, then I would stay. Alaska has been my home in the PBA and the leaders in the organization are my mentors."

Alaska team manager and board governor Joaqui Trillo wrote in a text message that "he sees no problem with Alaska dealing with Cone on a possible contract renewal."

Whether he will be given a fresh mandate in coaching, offered of a new position with Alaska or find himself going elsewhere remain to be seen. But Cone is now setting his sights on the PBA Fiesta Conference, where teams will parade imports 6'6" and below. Rey Joble (www.manilastandardtoday.com)