Cone keeping fingers crossed

Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone has acknowledged issues with execution in its campaign in the second window of the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

But the decorated mentor hopes Gilas will only get better from here.

Cone felt Gilas didn’t get to run much of their plays in a 66-69 heartbreaker against New Zealand that put an end to the team’s two-game winning run in Group A last Thursday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

“Yeah, we didn’t run as much triangle (offense) as we did. We probably should have run more,” Cone said.

“But they (New Zealand) did a good job of disrupting us.”

The Filipinos are trying to atone for their mistakes with another homestand against unbeaten Australia at the same Pasay venue as of press time.

Regardless of the result of Gilas’ first hosting of the Boomers since the infamous 2018 “basket-brawl” at the Philippine Arena, the tactician felt the facet of the team’s game that it must take care of in its chase for a spot in the second round.

“I think that’s the next step for us, being able to get more execution. We didn’t execute as much as we wanted to, and that’s why we didn’t get much of a flow,” he said.

Cone admitted that Gilas, which saw some tweaks in its roster with 7-foot-3 Kai Sotto skipping after just recovering from a knee injury, is relying on the skills of its lineup for now.

“We did what our guys are playing to their skills, and that was really what was most important, the guys playing to their skills. And not just being bogged down by execution,” he said.

“So, there’s a fine violence that goes on in that, and it can be difficult to find, especially with a team that you’re not with all the time,” he added.

“But again, the more we are together, we expect to fix that a little bit more.”