NEARLY two weeks after Gilas Pilipinas’ surprise semifinals stint in the FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament in Riga, National coach Tim Cone is still gushing.
“We went to the Latvia game, we just needed to play a very good game. We went out and played a great game and ended up beating them,” Cone said yesterday during a press conference at the TV5 Media Center in Mandaluyong. “We were surprised ourselves. That was the feeling all the way throughout the tournament.
“We just have to put out a good performance every night. But it’s just tough to do in that format and play at your highest level every night,” he added.
The Philippine five stunned world No. 6 Latvia 89-80 in its opener in Riga and while it dropped a 94-96 loss to Georgia, Cone’s charges still advanced to the Last Four against No. 12 Brazil.
With a OQT final slot at stake, Gilas was simply outclassed by the Brazilians 60-71 that ended its Paris Olympics dream.
Cone said having 6-foot-10 big man AJ Edu could have made a big difference.
“I can’t help but think, imagine if AJ Edu had been there,” Cone said. “What a difference he would’ve made in terms of keeping our big men fresh and giving them different looks because he’s a different type of big man.”
Edu sat out the tilt due to a knee injury.
But the towering tandem of 7-foot-3 Kai Sotto and reigning seven-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo ably made up for Edu’s absence.
“By and large, it was really our size, the play of June Mar and Kai that was the difference,” Cone said. “Of course, Justin and Dwight with the motor but without Kai and June Mar there, it didn’t really matter how well Justin played.
“It was the presence of the two big guys that made the difference.”
The Filipino cagers will resume their bid in the second window of the Asia Cup qualifiers set for Nov. 21 and 24 after they completed a 2-0 sweep of the first round of the Asia Cup qualifiers last February.
