Tim Cone can’t afford to fumble

National coach Tim Cone owed young Gilas stars no apology but he, nevertheless, said sorry to Kai Sotto et al after they were left out of the 15-man national pool for the Southeast Asian Games.

Cone on Thursday submitted a list to the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), which handpicked him to handle the national squad following the Gilas Pilipinas debacle in the China Fiba Basketball World Cup.

The core of Cone’s Barangay Ginebra will boost the national pool, and Cone had to make it clear he was not playing favorites.

It’s the call of the moment.

Cone’s assignment is a lot less pressure packed than that of Yeng Guiao mission in the World Cup. But there’s no denying this latest move by SBP forms part of a massive national basketball program restructuring.

Gilas fell in fragments in the China World Cup, a dreadful development caused mainly by a poor decision to field untested newcomers against seasoned international standouts. Coach Guiao was himself left with no choice but weave an outfit from an unseasoned bunch of fresh internationalists.

Never again, said Cone.

“It’s not getting the best players to go, rather it’s trying to create the best team in a short period of time,” Cone explained.

The way Cone put it [to SPIN.ph], it’s the most efficient way they can put together a core group that understands what to do in offense and defense. This tested bunch will help coach other players.

It’s having a core that knows the system and adding players to that core.

Cone called the system upgrading talent of the core.

“We didn’t add young PBA players or amateur stars because we just didn’t have the time for tryouts,” Cone repeated.

The SBP had listed eight amateur stars as part of the original 24-man pool drawn up for the SEA Games.

These youngsters were Kai Sotto, Kobe Paras, Ricci Rivero, Isaac Go, Justine Baltazar, Juan Gomez de Liaño, Dave Ildefonso and Thirdy Ravena.

Cone said SBP would come up with a new pool that would address the long-term program.

“Your time is coming soon,” Cone assured.

Like it or not, basketball will be the best followed event for Philippines in the SEA Games.

Cone said his assignment could be a stop-gap measure, but it could also be the start of something greater and very relevant.

It could be sky is the limit, after success in the SEA Games.