Ginebra coach Tim Cone. –MARLO CUETO/Inquirer.net
Barangay Ginebra won’t be having coach Tim Cone, Scottie Thompson, Jamie Malonzo and Japeth Aguilar for the duration of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) On Tour as they focus their attention on Gilas Pilipinas’ preparation for the Fiba (International Basketball Federation) Basketball World Cup.
Cone said they’ll be putting full focus on Gilas starting June 1 as he acts as one of coach Chot Reyes’ lieutenants, while Thompson, Malonzo and Aguilar are among those vying for slots for the global basketball showpiece which the country will cohost in late August.
“The three of them, myself and [resident import Justin Brownlee] will all be involved with Gilas starting June 1,” Cone told the Inquirer on Sunday.
Assistant coach Richard del Rosario will take Cone’s place in an acting role during the series.
Also out is veteran LA Tenorio, who is still undergoing treatment after being diagnosed with colon cancer.
C-Stand leads squad
Ginebra won’t start its stint in the On Tour, a two-month series of exhibition games to make up for the long PBA offseason due to the World Cup, on June 4 against San Miguel Beer at Ynares Center in Antipolo City, Rizal province.
Christian Standhardinger, fresh from winning gold in the Cambodia Southeast Asian Games, Stanley Pringle, Jeremiah Gray, Nards Pinto and Aljon Mariano are among the notable players in the Ginebra roster that has plenty of different names.
Part of the Gin Kings roster are Kim Aurin, who played for the team in the PBA 3×3, John Jeryl Espanola, Nicole Ubalde, Ralph Salcedo, Louis Cu and Donald Gumaru.
The rest in the Ginebra lineup are Jared Dillinger, Von Pessumal, Raymond Aguilar and Jayson David.