ALL OPTIONS OPEN — SBP mum on clamor to keep Cone as Gilas coach

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is keeping its options open amid clamor for Tim Cone to coach Gilas Pilipinas in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament set from 2 to 7 July next year.

In a message to Daily Tribune, SBP president Al Panlilio said they are not discounting the possibility of bringing back the noted American mentor but they have yet to discuss the arrangement with the Philippine Basketball Association and the San Miguel Corporation.

Cone is being floated as the frontrunner for the coveted coaching post after leading Gilas to the gold medal of the 19th Asian Games.

The feat was considered as a stroke of a genius as the squad had only 12 days to prepare and its roster was only finalized on the eve of its first day against Bahrain.

What was more impressive was the fact that Gilas shocked silver medalist Iran in the quarterfinals before pulling off a gigantic upset of China in the semifinals to gain a trip to the gold medal match.

With Gilas beating Jordan, they gave the country its first Asian Games gold medal since winning it in the 1962 edition in Jakarta.

Still, the federation has yet to tackle its plans in its bid to clinch one of the remaining four slots in the Paris Olympics next year.

"At this point, all options are open," said Panlilio, who also didn't discount the possibility of hiring a full-time mentor who will have a long-term commitment with the national squad.

So far, the Olympic picture is nearly complete.

Host France got an automatic slot while Japan will represent Asia, Australia for Oceania, Canada and the United States for the Americas, Germany and Serbia for Europe and South Sudan for Africa following their impressive performance in the recent FIBA Basketball World Cup in Manila.

With this, the only way for the Filipinos to make it to the Olympics for the first time since 1972 is through the OQT, where four slots are at stake.

The SBP has yet to announce its intention to serve as one of the four hosts.

Cone said should he bag the appointment, he will focus on continuing what he started with the program.

In fact, after steering the Centennial Team to the bronze medal of the Asian Games in 1998 in Bangkok, Cone was tapped to mentor the national team in an interim capacity twice.

The first was in the 30th Southeast Asian Games in Manila in 2019 and the second was in the recent Asian Games, which came at the heels of the completion of his task as chief deputy of Chot Reyes in the World Cup.

Cone said things would have been different had he been given the chance to return to the national squad following his failure to win the gold in 1998.

"It was a very bitter ending, but it made me a better person. It made me a better coach," Cone said.

"My only regret at that time was I was never given continuity in that role at that time. There were so many things I had in mind along the way and it stopped. I wasn't able to use them for the national team."

"There was so much personal growth with me and those players I coached with the national teams throughout my career," Cone added.

If given another shot at coaching the national squad, Cone is expected to come up with a stronger, well-equipped players as rising stars like Kai Sotto, AJ Edu and Dwight Ramos are tipped to see action as well as CJ Perez, Ange Kouame, Calvin Oftana and Chris Newsome, whom he has yet to coach in his long and distinguished Philippine Basketball Association career.