IRON sharpens iron.
That’s the mindset of Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone when they leave for Doha today for a five-day training camp that features a three-game friendly.
The nationals buckle down to work tomorrow when they take on the Qatar national team to kick off the Doha International Friendly Basketball Championship.
Gilas will also square off with Lebanon and Egypt to toughen up for the third and final window of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers set in August in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The Philippine five held a two-day training at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna to get back on track.
Cone could not emphasize more the commitment of his charges, led by naturalized star Justin Brownlee.
“I think you got to understand… PBA fans need to understand when he plays for the national team, he plays with his heart and when he plays because it’s a pride thing for him,” Cone said.
“But in the PBA, you know, he plays for his livelihood. This is where he makes his livelihood. He’s here in the PBA, not with the national team.
“He doesn’t make anywhere near the money of the national team but he does in the PBA,” he added.
After the four-nation pocket joust, Gilas will return to Manila for a brief rest before traveling to Chinese Taipei and clashing with the host team on Feb. 20, and proceeding to Auckland for a highly-anticipated rematch with New Zealand three days later.
Gilas paces Group B with an unscathed 4-0 mark, counting an emphatic 106-53 whipping of Chinese Taipei and a historic 93-89 breakthrough win against the Tall Blacks—all last year.
Ace 7-foot-3 center Kai Sotto was ruled out of the qualifiers (ACL) while new addition Troy Rosario suffered a knee injury in Game 3 of the Kings’ quarterfinals triumph over the Meralco Bolts in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup last Sunday night.
Overseas-based standouts Dwight Ramos and AJ Edu have rejoined the team while Chris Newsome and Carl Tamayo will show up in Qatar.
Is Cone worried that some of his key Ginebra players, who will see action in the semifinals against the NorthPort Batang Pier, are also with Gilas?
Country first—they are anyway suiting up for the Philippines’s most endeared ball club.
“We will figure a way. I don’t fear that. Preparing for more than a week or two weeks is too long,” Cone said. “Our guys will just try to stay sharp and these guys will be playing meaningful games. I think that will help them in terms of coming back and playing.”
