Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone isn’t leaving anything to chance in the fourth window of the country’s FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers. In fact, he is approaching the national team’s preparation with an all-hands-on-deck approach.
“The margin of error has really dissipated for us. So I’ve been saying over the last few weeks it’s an all-hands-on-deck kind of thing,” said Cone just days prior to the start of Gilas Pilipinas’ 10-day practice time for the fourth window, which unfurls on August 28 in Manila.
That approach is certainly necessary. Gilas has an overall record of 2-4 in the qualifiers after a four-game skid following its opening-round sweep of Guam. That puts the team fifth in Group E behind unbeaten Australia, Iran and Jordan (5-1), and New Zealand (4-2). Only the top three teams will secure an outright slot to next year’s FIBA World Cup, with one spot left for the next highest finisher among the groups. A loss in the fourth window, therefore, will doom Gilas Pilipinas’ hopes to qualify for the quadrennial hoops spectacle.
Cone Expands His Pool—Somewhat
Surprisingly, Cone has expanded his pool of players for the upcoming window, adding rookie Geo Chiu and veteran RR Pogoy into the mix. Chiu has been a pleasant surprise in the PBA Governors’ Cup for the Terrafirma Dyip, routinely posting double-digit rebounds and leading the league in blocks at 2.5 a game. Pogoy, on the other hand, is one of the PBA’s best two-way players and has vast international experience.
The two will join Window 3 holdovers Justin Brownlee, RJ Abarrientos, AJ Edu, June Mar Fajardo, Chris Newsome, Kevin Quiambao, Dwight Ramos, Carl Tamayo, Juan Gomez de Liaño, Troy Rosario, and Justine Baltazar, as well as Gilas Pilipinas mainstays Kai Sotto, Scottie Thompson, Calvin Oftana, and CJ Perez. Sotto has not played a single game in these qualifiers due to injury and personal pursuits but made a surprising and most-welcome return. Thompson, Oftana, and Perez, on the other hand, missed the third window against New Zealand and Australia due to injuries.
Completing the 20-man pool are Ange Kouame, Quentin Millora-Brown, and Mike Phillips. QMB and Phillips, though, officially won’t be part of the final 12 as the former is still recovering from back surgery, while the latter has begged off for personal reasons. Kouame, meanwhile, could be in the running depending on Brownlee’s health but is likely just a backup.
Gilas Pilipinas Schedule
Gilas Pilipinas will play Jordan on August 28, followed by Iran on August 30. Both games will take place at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
