Goal unlocked for Gilas Pilipinas

Despite suffering two losses, it was still a mission accomplished for Gilas Pilipinas in the Doha International Cup in Qatar.

No less than Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Al Panlilio issued a statement, saying that their objectives have been met as they close their three-game friendly series in preparation for the third window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.

Gilas blew hot and cold in Doha.

They open their bid with a scary 74-71 win over Qatar before suffering a 21-point loss to Lebanon. They closed their campaign with a 55-86 setback to Egypt to enter their Asia Cup matches against Chinese Taipei in Taiwan on Thursday and New Zealand in Auckland on Saturday with bruised egos.

But for the SBP chief, results hardly matter as the Filipinos were able to jell and develop their chemistry heading into the final window of the qualifiers.

“Nothing much to say except that it was a good time for them to work on chemistry, especially with (Jamie) Malonzo and (AJ) Edu back,” Panlilio said in a message to DAILY TRIBUNE on Monday.

“It was a good experience playing with teams like Egypt and Lebanon, practice games for the windows of not only the FIBA Asia Cup and event the qualifying for the World Cup.”

In a previous statement, Cone bared that they are looking past the final qualifying window as they have formally secured a spot in the FIBA Asia Cup that will be held in Saudi Arabia on 5 August.

In fact, the main reason why they competed in Doha was not just to prepare for the qualifiers — where they fashion an immaculate 4-0 card — but to execute their game plan against countries whom they expect to play with in the FIBA Asia Cup like Lebanon and Qatar.

And now that one of their cornerstones in Kai Sotto is injured while Edu is making a return, Cone and his staff have to devise a game plan that will fit their system.