PBA Analysis: Ginebra is saying goodbye to TRIANGLE OFFENSE?

Basketball, much like life, is not a static endeavor. It breathes, it shifts, and it demands that we adapt to the reality of the present moment.

When I look at what Tim Cone is doing with Barangay Ginebra, I don't see a coach abandoning his principles; I see a master practitioner who is reading the rhythm of his roster and the evolution of the global game. Coaching isn't about imposing a rigid philosophy onto players who don't fit the mold. It is about finding harmony.

Let's break down exactly what is happening in Manila, why this evolution is the right path, and whether the spirit of the Triangle Offense still beats at the heart of this team.

Are They Doing the Right Thing?

Absolutely. The numbers speak to a team finding its natural flow: 13.0 three-pointers made on 33.9 attempts per game. But more importantly, the context speaks to mindful coaching.

You cannot coach the ghost of seasons past. Tim noted that they used to be a power, inside-oriented team when they had Christian Standhardinger. When your personnel shifts from traditional post operators to modern, floor-spacing bigs like Isaac Go, Norbert Torres, and Kemark Carino, trying to pound the ball inside is like trying to force a river to flow backward.

Look at the tools at Tim's disposal now:

The Initiators: Justin Brownlee and RJ Abarrientos. These two are your primary penetrators. In any offensive system, you need players who can compromise the defense. Abarrientos shooting 42% from deep while acting as a creator forces the defense to stretch out, creating massive driving lanes.
The Beneficiaries: When the defense collapses on Brownlee or Abarrientos, the ball finds the open man. Stephen Holt shooting 48% and Ralph Cu hitting 55% from beyond the arc isn't an accident. It is the result of high-quality shot creation and willing passers.

Tim Cone's exposure to the international game with Gilas Pilipinas has surely opened his eyes to the math of the modern game, but his decision to empower his shooters is simply good, mindful management of the talent he has in the room.

Is This Still the Triangle Offense?

There is a persistent, fundamental misunderstanding of the Triangle Offense. Many observers believe it is an archaic system designed solely to feed big men in the low post or create contested mid-range jumpers.

That couldn't be further from the truth. The Triangle is not a set play; it is a spatial template. At its core, the Triangle is about maintaining a 15-to-18-foot spacing between players, reading the defense, and reacting instinctively. It is about creating a sideline triangle (typically a post player, a wing, and a corner player) and a two-man game on the weak side.

Here is how Tim Cone is utilizing the Triangle to generate those 13 threes a game:

Expanded Spacing: Instead of the post player setting up on the low block, the "post" in the modern Triangle can operate at the high post or even step out beyond the arc (which players like Go and Torres are perfectly suited for). The spacing simply expands. The geometry remains the same, but the perimeter is wider.
Read and React: When Brownlee or Abarrientos initiates the offense, the defense has to make a choice. If they overplay the passing lanes, the Triangle's inherent backdoor cuts open up. If the defense sags to protect the paint against their penetration, the read dictates a kick-out pass to the perimeter.
Ball Reversal: The true beauty of the Triangle is ball movement. When the ball swings from the strong side to the weak side, it forces the defense to rotate. In today's PBA, a slow rotation doesn't result in a mid-range jumper; it results in a Stephen Holt or Ralph Cu corner three.

Tim said it himself: "We've been just trying to create more three-point shots through our triangle... it's evolved that way."

The Triangle is doing exactly what it was always designed to do: it takes what the defense gives. Today's defenses are terrified of the paint, so the Triangle organically produces open looks from the perimeter. The system hasn't died; it has simply evolved to meet the modern era. Ginebra is playing beautiful, connected basketball, and they are doing it the right way.

Basketball GM

NBA

Search This Blog