GILAS Pilipinas coach Tim Cone is hoping his words will turn out to be prophetic anew—he’s convinced his charges can hack it against a formidable foe that has beaten them the last four times they clashed.
Whether the Philippine five can finally get the job done will be known when it takes on world No. 22 New Zealand tonight in the second window of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.
The match pitting two combatants with 2-0 marks is set at 7:30 p.m. before an expected mammoth crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
It is with guarded optimism that Cone is treating his squad’s duel against the Tall Blacks who will be handled by a new tactician in Judd Flavell—a former player of former National strategist and current Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin—and former NBA cager Corey Webster.
“Well, you know, Webster’s there—the NBA guy. He’s going to be a guy that we’re going to have to be attentive to as he can change a game. When he gets hot, he gets rolling,” Cone said. “This (New Zealand) team looks, if I may say, a lot younger but more athletic and their coach is brand new.
“He has brought three or four players along. He’s gonna have continuity,” he added.
Cone has yet to name his final 12-man line-up at press time last night with the likes of naturalized standouts Justin Brownlee and Ange Kouame leading the 15-man national team training pool that toughened up at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna last week.
Reigning eight-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo, former MVP Scottie Thompson, Chris Newsome, CJ Perez, Calvin Oftana, Kevin Quiambao, and overseas-based standouts Kai Sotto, Dwight Ramos, Carl Tamayo and AJ Edu complete the pool that clobbered Meralco 96-82 in a tune-up tiff last Monday.
The 7-foot-3 Sotto has been greenlighted to suit up for Gilas after completing a concussion protocol, but the 6-foot-10 Edu (knee) is still doubtful.
Cone ruled out Malonzo from seeing action after undergoing calf surgery while Japeth Aguilar and Mason Amos will serve as reserves.
The New Zealanders are expected to show up equally determined to notch a crucial win in the November round.
The top two sides in each of the six groups will gain outright slots in the Asia Cup next year from Aug. 5 to 17 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The six third placers will still have a chance at the final four berths and will go through another tourney to decide which will advance.
“I think this will be their first game together as a group and I remember our first game when we played Hong Kong, there’s a lot of excitement, energy and we were raring to play,” Cone said.
“We are expecting that from them as well.”
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas President Al Panlilio said he wants Gilas to keep its momentum.
“So far, we have been undefeated, but we want to make sure that we continue to win as many games as we can, the more wins you have, the better seeding you have coming into the tournament,” he said.
“Of course, you do want to meet the less strong teams at the start of the tournament, and you only meet with the stronger teams, hopefully, at the tail end of the tournament.”
The country’s cage body is rallying true-blue fans to storm to the Pasay-based venue—that’s likely—and a victory will make tonight a memorable experience.
