COACH Tim Cone steered Barangay Ginebra to the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup championship Wednesday night, beating TNT in seven games.
Right off the bat, Cone showed up in the Gilas Pilipinas practice on Thursday as the team prepares for the third window of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian qualifiers against Australia and New Zealand in July.
“I have to go to Gilas practice tomorrow (Thursday). It’s tough because it doesn’t stop at this point,” said Cone during the post-game talk with media.
“When everybody else is taking a break, Gilas is going out there and playing.”
Cone, who extended his PBA coaching record to 26 league championships, said that Gilas Pilipinas already started practicing last Wednesday without him and other Gilas pool members who were still playing in the Commissioner’s Cup title series.
Cone added that his Gilas Pilipinas assistant coaches Jong Uichico, Sean Chambers, and LA Tenorio took charge of the training where six players were in attendance.
Present at Wednesday’s training were AJ Edu, Dwight Ramos, Kevin Quiambao, Carl Tamayo, Justin Baltazar and UAAP Season 88 Finals Most Valuable Player Mike Phillips.
“Only half of the team showed up because most of these guys are in off-season,” said Cone.
He explained that the early practice was needed to ensure everyone available can get reacquainted with the Gilas Pilipinas system.
“So we need to bring them back early to get them back in shape,” he said.
Cone, meanwhile, said a possible Media Day and an open workout is being planned on June 22.
Cone also said the national team plans to leave for Auckland on June 23 to hold a training camp there for at least a week to acclimatize since New Zealand is currently in its cold season.
“Masyadong malamig in Auckland right now. So we want to go down there a little early and try to catch up to the weather,” said Cone as he spoke in Filipino to the delight of media men.
Gilas Pilipinas begins the final window by going up against New Zealand on July 3 followed by world No. 6 Australia on July 6 in Perth. RICHARD DY
