GILAS Pilipinas coach Tim Cone is confident in his “Magnificent 11” as they brace for the tough grind in the FIBA Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Riga, Latvia next week.
“I think we’re better off going 11 strong,” Cone said in a pre-departure interview posted on the PBA website. “It’s not that big of a deal that we’re just 11-strong.”
With Ginebra’s do-it-all star Scottie Thompson out of the squad due to an injury, the multi-titled mentor said he felt comfortable with his current roster.
“I don’t feel we’re shorthanded at all. I’m not a guy who plays 11 or 12 guys anyway. I’m really an eight or nine-man rotation,” said the national team coach.
“The reason you have 12 guys is not necessarily for the game, but to have 12 guys in practice in case somebody goes down,” Cone said.
Bannered by Justin Brownlee, the hero in Gilas Pilipinas’ golden stint in last year’s Hangzhou Asian Games, the Nationals left last Tuesday for Turkey where they will pray two tune-up games with the host country and Poland.
Cone used his 11-member lineup in the team’s 74-64 send-off win over the Taiwan Mustangs last Monday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Brownlee, who had a double-double of 12 points and 15 assists, played the most minutes with 34 while Ateneo mainstay Mason Ramos had the least floor exposure with five.
Aside from Brownlee and Amos, also with the national team are seven-time MVP June Mar Fajardo, Kai Sotto, Carl Tamayo, Dwight Ramos, Chris Newsome, CJ Perez, Japeth Aguilar, Kevin Quiambao, and Calvin Oftana.
Gilas cagers will be threading the needle’s eye as they bid for the lone Olympic ticket in the six-team tournament opening on July 2 at the Riga Arena in the Latvian capital. — Bong Pedralvez
