ONE clutch victory at home. Another one before the cage wars begin.
All signs point to a Gilas Pilipinas quintet armed and ready for the FIBA Asia Cup kicking off tomorrow in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
National coach Tim Cone, however, differed and insisted they are not there just yet.
“I’m just looking for a measurement of where we are in terms of preparedness,” Cone said.
“So I think that is really the key, to see how prepared we are,” he added.
Cone spoke after his charges essayed a 75-61 whipping of Jordan in an exhibition duel early yesterday before closed doors at the Al Ahli Sports Club.
The Philippine five also hacked out a similarly impressive triumph—although it needed to erase a 21-point deficit—at the expense of the Macau Black Bears 103-98 last week in Manila.
Against the Jordanians they turned back two years ago for the gold medal in the Hangzhou Asian Games, the Filipino cagers banked on an 11-point lead at the half they never relinquished, thanks mainly to the exploits of former PBA MVP Scottie Thompson, Calvin Oftana, Dwight Ramos, and Kevin Quiambao.
Jordan is also seeing action in the continental tourney formerly known as the ABC Championships and FIBA Asia Championship, but will be without naturalized star and resident TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
Prized naturalized ward Justin Brownlee will spearhead the quad along with reigning eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo, Thompson, Oftana, Ramos, and Quiambao.
Jamie Malonzo, Japeth Aguilar, Chris Newsome, CJ Perez, AJ Edu, and Carl Tamayo make up the 12-man line-up.
Gilas begins its quest for the gold against Chinese Taipei on Wednesday 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 flying the colors of Northern Consolidated, last won it all in the tilt in 1985.
Under former strategists Chot Reyes and Tab Baldwin, Gilas finished as bridesmaid in the meet in 2013 in Manila and in 2015 in Changsa, respectively.
While Cone said their target is nothing but the crown, the friendly tiff—and the remaining time to prepare—should spell the big difference.
“I don’t think we’re there yet,” he said. “But I think these games will go a long way in helping us where we want to get to.”
The next two weeks should be exciting times for true-blue Gilas fans.
