WHILE the Gilas squad preparing for the coming FIBA window lost to the national side preparing for the Asian Games, head coach Tim Cone chose to stick to the positives and veer away from the negative messages swirling in various social media platforms the past two days.
“It’s hardly worth commenting on since it was a practice game,” Cone told The Manila Times, when asked about his assessment on the Kai Sotto-led Gilas team that lost to the Gilas-Asian Games squad, which had PBA guards Robert Bolick and Adrian Nocum leading the way.
“But the result was less an indictment of the window team but more about praising the Asian Games team. They are coming along great with a lot of enthusiasm and fun to watch. The fans will like them,” he added.
Cone didn’t mention any other details on the Gilas-FIBA window squad, but news circulating on social media noted that it fell by as many as 18 points heading to its defeat in the scrimmage game held last Monday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
But the next day, Sotto and the Gilas squad returned the favor by beating the Bolick-led Philippine side preparing for the Asian Games.
“And as it turned out, we scrimmaged again the next day with the Window team for the most part winning. Both teams did a great job of helping each other get ready,” shared Cone.
The American mentor elected to let the two Gilas squads out to achieve two separate goals face off in a pair of scrimmage games.
“It was more of a shared practice. Same place as the first, [at] MOA. The next practices are FIBA sanctioned, so we can’t invite another team to practice with us anymore,” he said.
The Gilas team, which will have 7-3 Sotto leading the way, won’t have Justin Brownlee as it tangles with Jordan on Friday, Aug. 28, followed by Iran on Sunday, Aug. 30, for the fourth window of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.
Both games will be played at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Philippine team is out to arrest a four-game skid and win these next two games to bolster its FIBA World Cup bid.
