SEA Games gold medal in sight for Tim Cone, Gilas

Men’s basketball team head coach Tim Cone during a game in the 30th Southeast Asian Games. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.netR.n

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine team head coach Tim Cone always has something elaborate to say during interviews. For pep talks, however, Cone would rather keep it short and simple.

For all of Cone’s accolades, being a gold medalist is not of them and so is the same for eight of his players who all have already built impressive resumes in the PBA.

But now they are just a win away from achieving the feat in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

“I asked them yesterday (Sunday), how many of you guys have won a gold medal in your career? I’ve been in the league 31 years, and I’ve been coaching in the PBA for 31, I’ve never won a gold medal,” Cone, who sat beside guard Chris Ross during the post-game press conference, said Monday night on the eve of Gilas Pilipinas’ gold medal match against Thailand.

“[I’ve] won a few championships, but not a gold medal, so this is special.”

“I know Chris hasn’t won a gold medal, and most, I think 8 or 9 of our guys haven’t won a gold medal. So now that it’s this close, I think our guys are gonna be ready.”

Of the 12, only Kiefer Ravena, Christian Standhardinger, Troy Rosario and Greg Slaughter have won at least a SEA Games gold medal.

June Mar Fajardo, LA Tenorio, Vic Manuel, Matthew Wright, Stanley Pringle, Marcio Lassiter, Japeth Aguilar and Ross will have their shot at a first gold Tuesday night in front of a hometown crowd at Mall of Asia Arena.

Gilas winning the gold has been a foregone conclusion even before the tournament started. The Philippines has held the men’s basketball title since 1981 and the country’s reign won’t end anytime soon.

Cone, though, stressed that it’s not going to be as smooth-sailing as everyone thinks with a worthy challenger in Thailand, which scraped past Vietnam, 101-95, in the other semifinal matchup.

“Easier said than done, though. It’s gonna be a struggle for us, tomorrow (Tuesday). I feel it,” he said.