Cone tops SBP list

The country’s most decorated mentor may end up handling Gilas Pilipinas.

Tim Cone, the most successful coach in the history of Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) with 21 championships including a pair of grand slams, is said to be the top choice to handle Gilas in the 30th Southeast Asian Games that the country will host from 30 November to 11 December.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) had already started its quest for a new coach following the resignation of Yeng Guiao in the aftermath of Gilas Pilipinas’ disastrous stint in the FIBA Basketball World Cup in China.

The federation has until 30 September to name Guiao’s successor, but reports have it that SBP chairman emeritus Manny Pangilinan and SBP president Al Panlilio would appoint a new coach as early as this weekend.

“We have to choose the coach first,” Pangilinan said.

“Then, the first order is to talk to him if he’s willing himself. I would like to imagine that he would be. Then, we have to talk to San Miguel. I think they will allow him to do that.”

If ever, this will not be the first time for Cone to handle the national squad.

He served as head coach when the Philippines competed in the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok, powering the Centennial Team to a bronze-medal finish.

Aside from Cone, also in the conversation are Tab Baldwin and Jimmy Alapag.

Baldwin could be a perfect fit as well as he has massive experience in the international arena while Alapag, the skipper when Gilas Pilipinas made a glorious run in the FIBA World Cup in Spain in 2014, is considered as a rising star in the coaching circle after being invited by Serbian Vlade Divac to be part of the coaching staff of the Sacramento Kings in the NBA Summer League.