When it was over, so was Cone’s burden.

Cone overcame the jitters of his first face-off against the team no one thought he would leave behind, and B-Meg outlasted Alaska, 81-75, in an emotional PBA Philippine Cup game Wednesday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

“I’m just glad that this day is going to end,” said Cone during the post-game interview. “It was a tough day. We can move forward.” Nothing really big was at stake but both teams’ first win in the early tournament. But the hype surrounding Cone ditching the Aces last Sept. 1 for something he said was for a ‘new direction’ turned out huge, and the pressure on the two ball clubs snowballed as well.

In the end, it was the Llamados, the ones blessed with more talent, who thrived. Kerby Raymundo hit a lay-up after finding an open lane to the basket for a 79-75 lead with 20 seconds left to play, and Josh Urbiztondo hit three straight three-point shots earlier to keep Alaska at bay.

“We really tried hard from a team stand-point to take this game as a regular game,” said Cone. “It didn’t matter who we’re facing. I felt the pressure but I didn’t want to put that pressure on the players.

“What I like about this group is they’ve been together for so long that they don’t panic.” B-Meg surely didn’t when it dropped behind by 24-9 early in the second quarter, the biggest gap in the game. And the Llamados again certainly didn’t when LA Tenorio hit two free throws with 32.3 seconds to go to make it a 77-75 ball game.

And so, the Llamados finally secured their first win, something that they were expected to accomplish in their debut against Petron but failed to do so in a 73-69 defeat.

“We were still at a loss on our coach’s system during the first game,” said James Yap, who paced B-Meg with 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds. “Now we’re slowly learning the ropes of the Triangle Offense.” Urbiztondo scored nine of his 12 points in the fourth quarter and Raymundo likewise contributed the same output for the Llamados, who dealt the Aces their second defeat in as many games, leaving head coach Joel Banal winless still.

Sonny Thoss scored 18 points and Jay-R Reyes collected 15 points and 11 rebounds for Alaska.

Meralco similarly booked its first win in the season-opening tournament, relying on role players and an ageing big man to take the cudgels in a scary 79-72 victory over Shopinas.com earlier.

Asi Taulava, the oldest active player at 38 and a 12-season veteran, hit on a fall-away jumper with 25.4 seconds left to play, and all but one of the players fielded scored as the Bolts survived the absence of their two superstar guards – Mark Cardona and Sol Mercado – and key forward Reynel Hugnatan.

Cardona suffered a severe ankle sprain six minutes into Meralco’s opening-game against defending champion Talk ‘N Text, and Mercado has yet to recuperate from a knee injury. Both players aren’t expected to suit up soon, and the franchise’s coach, Ryan Gregorio, has no idea when the two scorers will return.

“These kinds of injuries have no timetable,” said Gregorio.

But Gregorio and Meralco were still fortunate to find ways to win.

Gabby Espinas collected 16 points and nine rebounds, Mark Macapagal had 14 points, and Mark Isip and Mark Yee combined for 21 points and 10 rebounds coming off the bench for the Bolts, which won despite committing 24 turnovers, 11 coming in the first quarter alone and 15 at the half.

“In the end it was the shot of Asi that bailed us out,” said Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio. “It was a great challenge for the players who were inserted to the team primarily to play a role to be entrusted to be superstars for the game. I hate looking for excuses, it’s just finding ways to win.” Taulava’s pressure-filled attempt at a time when the Clickers were once again on the verge of a stunning upset gave the Bolts a 77-72 lead, and Shopinas.com never scored since then after wasting two possessions down the stretch.

“Defense was given emphasis,” Gregorio said. “We limited them (Clickers) to only 72 points, and we poured enough points to win it.” After Meralco took that five-point cushion late in the game, Shopinas.com blew its opportunity to come closer. Paolo Hubalde lost the leather at the deep left corner after getting double-teamed off an inbounds pass.

Macapagal was quickly fouled and made both charities, before Ren-Ren Ritualo’s shot at the three-point area got blocked by Mark Borboran and Hubalde’s own three-point attempt misfired.

While there were order already in Meralco’s offense and defense late in the game, it was entirely different from the very beginning.

The Bolts and the Clickers combined for just 20 points in the first quarter, the lowest combined output in any period for the past four conferences.

Meralco had 11 points, and Shopinas.com 9 after the opening quarter before the pace took a different twist starting the second period, and the Bolts led by just 32-31 at the break.