GILAS Pilipinas coach Tim Cone believes his wards need to upgrade on defense and is of concerned about the players who were banged up after figuring in the PBA Cup semifinals before they plunge into action in the FIBA Asia Cup opening Aug. 5 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
“We need to upgrade on our defense and I am more concerned here is about our players who were dinged up in the PBA Philippine Cup semis,” said Cone during the official launch of adidas as the official outfitter of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas at the Monarch Sports resto bar in Makati City.
Present during occasion was SBP president Al, SBP executive director Erika Dy, Gilas team manager Alfrancis Chua, PBA commissioner Willie Marcial and American adidas country manager to the Philippines Dave Sexton.
Dy said the deal with adidas will run up until the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028.
“Our company aims to be the best sports brand in the world and adidas is committed to SBP in outfitting our player featuring our latest in aero technology,” Sexton said of the of four-year partnership.
“As far as we are concerned this parnership is a milestone for SBP and we are glad having adidas our official outfitter,” Panlilio said.
“Scottie (Thompson) is dinged up, so is CJ (Perez) and Calvin (Oftana) so that is a cause of concern,” noted Cone, who said that while he met with some of the players last Monday the official practice won’t begin until July 14 at the Upper Deck gym in Pasig City.
He said that versatile swingman Justin Brownlee, who is recovering from an injured right hand, and AJ Edu, who was at yesterday’s event, were already in town.
“Justin will have extra workouts for his shooting and I am not concerned if he is out of shape,” said the celebrated coach of the do-it-all player, adding that “since he has practically had no rest, the five-week break may have done him more good.
“I am not worried about him at all. Justin is Justin.”
Cone said that he doesn’t expect big man Kevin Quiambao, who is trying out with five NBA clubs in the US, until July 16.
He disclosed that before leaving for the Saudi capital, the Gilas cagers would have a tune-up match with the Macau Bears on July 28 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum then another with Jordan in Jeddah on Aug. 2.
“The Macau Bears played the Chinese national team so that should be a good tuneup match for us, and I also felt this was also good for the fans who rarely get to see Gilas play at home,” Cone explained.
The FIBA Asia Cup will run from Aug. 5 to 17 in Jeddah, with the Philippines bracketed in Group D with Chinese-Taipei, New Zealand and Iraq in a single-round series where the top two advance to the knockout quarterfinals.
Gilas Pilipinas will aim to surpass its woeful ninth place finish with a record of one win and three setbacks in the 2022 edition held in Jakarta, Indonesia.
