Cone relishes World Cup Asian Qualifiers
Scottie Thompson could emerge as a much better player after he suits up for Gilas Pilipinas in the World Cup Asian Qualifiers in Malaysia.
Photograph courtesy of PBA
It will be hitting two birds with one stone for Barangay Ginebra head coach Tim Cone and top guard Scottie Thompson when Gilas Pilipinas marches to war for two must-win games in the fifth window of the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers late this month in Malaysia.
The two will be missing weeks of the Kings’ preparation for the coming Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Governors’ Cup semifinals against defending champion TNT.
However, the Gilas mentor has no worries about Thompson skipping Ginebra practice, as the former PBA Most Valuable Player is basically playing under a familiar system.
For the 26-time PBA champion tactician, not only will they get another chance to represent the Philippines in a high-level basketball competition, but they will also take the opportunity to gain experience which they can bring back to the Kings once they return from a tour of duty against Syria on 27 November and Iran on the 29th.
“I personally think that Gilas will prepare him,” Cone said of his prized combo guard.
“I mean, we pretty much run the same system that we’re going to be running at Ginebra.”
Thompson is just one of the four PBA players — the lone Ginebra star — in the second to the last stop of the World Cup Qualifiers second round.
The rest of the Gilas crew are overseas-based players, including debuting naturalized player Bennie Boatwright.
“So, he’s going to be playing against some really tough competition and that’s going to be exciting for him. And he’s going to be practicing with some really high-level players every day,” Cone said.
Ginebra needed the full five games to get rid of sister team San Miguel Beer in the quarterfinals — the only series that went the full distance — to set up a best-of-five semis clash with the Tropang 5G.
The semis showdown, which is a rematch of last edition’s championship series, begins on 4 December.
“So, I think that it’s going to be a really good prep for Scottie,” Cone said.
Gilas will fly to Malaysia on the 21st for a short training camp and will return to Manila on the 30th.
“It’s just gonna be coming in and being able to form game plans within three days after we arrive. So that’s going to be the key for us is forming those game plans and getting ready for those game plans,” Cone said.