TIM Cone would like to see the new kids on the block make waves in the Asian Games in Japan so he could expand the Gilas pool for the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.
PHOTOGRAPH by JOey Sanchez Mendozafor DAILY TRIBUNE
Gilas Pilipinas’ campaign in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games serves a dual purpose for head coach Tim Cone.
One is the Philippines’ gargantuan task of defending the gold medal, with the possibility of fielding only 11 players, as naturalized player Justin Brownlee’s availability is still up in the air.
The other?
Using the campaign as a testing ground for possible additions to the Gilas pool for November’s fifth window on the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
“For sure,” Cone said when asked if he’s looking for possible additions to the FIBA window Gilas pool.
“These guys are all potential guys. That’s why we put them on the list in the first place. But they’re all potential guys to be on the window team.”
The all-Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) stars-composed Gilas is currently in South Korea for the final stretch of its preparations for the Asiad before heading to Nagoya on Monday.
Gilas is in Group C alongside Bahrain, Kazakhstan and China and will begin its repeat bid on Friday against Bahrain.
Robert Bolick, who last played for the FIBA window team back on 27 February 2022 against New Zealand during the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Asian qualifiers, leads a crack pro-backed Gilas squad.
The team also includes Don Trollano, Jerrick Ahanmisi, Sedrick Barefield, Zav Lucero, Adrian Nocum, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and Brandon Bates along with FIBA fourth-window regulars Justin Arana and Justine Baltazar and reserve point guard RJ Abarrientos.
Gilas’ World Cup Qualifiers fourth-window team, composed of PBA players and overseas-based cagers, swept its two-game home stand over the weekend against Jordan and Iran.
With veteran big man June Mar Fajardo already retired and 7-foot-3 center Kai Sotto looking to get a spot in the US NCAA or in the National Basketball Association, Cone will need to fill out some spots for the must-win games of the fifth window.
“There’s not a lot of open spots on the window team,” Cone said.
“But I was kidding the players earlier that every one of those guys on that team, except for RJ, I hate them all. Because I have to see them every day in the PBA. I’ve got to play against these guys and the other ones that are beating us up and winning games against us. So, I hate them all. But for now, I’m starting to love them all,” he added.
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Gilas’ next FIBA window opponent is Syria on 27 November before a rematch against Iran on the 30th.
