BEING the PBA’s winningest coach, Gilas Pilipinas tactician Tim Cone is understandably setting his sights on the biggest prize.
The coming FIBA Asia Cup is no exception.
Cone said his charges are eyeing the gold in the continental tilt set for Aug. 5 to 7 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
“Our goal is a gold medal. That’s our goal. We’re going to go out there to try to win a gold medal. Will we? I’m not sure. That’s certainly our goal,” Cone said. “But that’s not what we’re focused on, though. We’re focused on everyday, what we do every day.
“We’re focused right now on the first game we play, and beyond that, there’s nothing,” he added.
The Nationals arrived in the seaport city in the Middle East last night, with the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas also announcing the 12-man roster for the prestigious meet formerly known as the ABC Championship and FIBA Asia Championship.
Naturalized star Justin Brownlee banners the team along with reigning eight-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo, who is nursing a calf injury, and Calvin Oftana (sprained knees), who still joined the trip.
Former MVP Scottie Thompson, Jamie Malonzo, Japeth Aguilar, Chris Newsome, CJ Perez, Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, Carl Tamayo, and Kevin Quiambao complete the squad.
After his stint with Gilas in Jeddah, Malonzo is set to bring his act to Kyoto in Japan B.League in a surprise move.
The Philippine five launches its bid against Chinese Taipei on Aug. 5 at the King Abdullah Sports City, followed by a titanic clash with New Zealand on Aug. 7 and Iraq two days later in Group D of the tourney.
The Philippines, then carrying the banner of Northern Consolidated, last ruled the tilt in 1985.
Under former coaches Chot Reyes and Tab Baldwin, Gilas wound up as bridesmaids in the joust in 2013 in Manila and in 2015 in Changsa, respectively.
Cone is treating their campaign with guarded optimism.
“Right now, our goal is certainly to win a gold medal,” he said. “We’ll do what we can to get there. We’re not going to look that far ahead.
“Right now, our goal is there, but our focus is what’s right in front of us.”
These 12 men—together with Cone and an able brain thrust and management—are tasked to carry the country’s hopes of ending a 40-year title drought in the Asian battle. They’re ready to rise to the challenge.
