THE Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone are training their sights long-term–a possible stint in the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
“The ultimate goal for the SBP is to make it to the LA Olympics,” Cone said three days ago on the Power and Play program hosted by former PBA Commissioner Noli Eala.
“I think that’s the ultimate goal. That’s what they are looking for,” he added.
Cone also said the Nationals will work doubly hard to gain a slot in the FIBA World Cup three years from now in Qatar.
“But ultimately, in the fourth year, we want to be playing in the Qatar World Cup. We have to qualify first, but we want to be playing in the Qatar World Cup,” Cone said.
“We want to finish first in Asia and get that berth in the LA Olympics. That’s been clear to me. That’s the goal of the SBP.”
But it doesn’t mean Gilas is giving up on its bid in this year’s Paris Games, according to Cone, who intends to build the strongest squad in the Olympic qualifying tournament.
“We are going to the qualifier in July. We have an opportunity to qualify. It’s going to be a tough, tough road with Latvia playing at home. It’s really difficult but not impossible,” he said. “We are not going out there with the idea that we’re just going to show up and try to look good. We are going to go out there and try to win. “That’s always going to be our philosophy. That will always be our goal. It won’t be our focus, but it will be our goal. Our focus is just to get the process of getting better every day. But the goal is to win.”
The Philippine five faces a daunting task–seemingly a Mission Impossible–to gain a berth in the Paris Olympics.
The Philippines is bracketed with host and world No. 8 Latvia, and No. 23 Georgia in Group A in the qualifying tilt.
The 38th-ranked Gilas side must finish in the top two of its group to advance to the crossover semifinals against the top two of Group B, which includes No. 12 Brazil, No. 17 Montenegro, and No. 67 Cameroon.
The winners of the crossover semis will clash for the lone slot in the Olympics.
The OQT will be held through four tourneys simultaneously from July 2 to 7 in the cities of Piraeus, Riga, San Juan, and Valencia.
Gilas will launch its bid on the road against Hong Kong on Feb. 22 and will square off with Chinese Taipei three days later at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
The second round of the qualifiers is set for Nov. 21 and Nov. 24.
