Tim Cone officially named Gilas coach, picks 12-man pool

FILE–Gilas Pilipinas players carry their head coach Tim Cone following their win over Jordan in the men’s basketball gold medal match at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

MANILA, Philippines–Tim Cone will be calling the shots for Gilas Pilipinas—this time permanently.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas made Cone’s appointment official on Monday, paving the way for the basketball program’s new era that will be first tested next month.

“We’re excited to see what he can accomplish with a long-term program in place especially if such program is supported by all basketball stakeholders,” SBP president Al Panlilio said in a statement released to select media outlets, about an hour after the Inquirer reported the development.

The decorated Cone has picked Scottie Thompson, Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, CJ Perez, Jamie Malonzo and June Mar Fajardo from the Philippine Basketball Association’s rich pool to join him in the Asia Cup Qualifiers which gets going Feb. 22.

Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone. –ASIAN GAMES POOL

Also selected are standouts plying their trade overseas: Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, Carl Tamayo, Kai Sotto, along with varsity superstar Kevin Quiambao.

Justin Brownlee, the SBP said, will remain as Gilas’ primary choice for naturalized player pending the International Basketball Federation’s decision on his Asian Games doping case.

The list is expected to change in the coming days as some of those players mentioned have recently suffered an injury, namely Edu and Malonzo.

Richard del Rosario, Cone’s deputy at Barangay Ginebra, will serve as the team manager. The SBP and Cone, however, have yet to identify who rounds out the new edition of the Gilas brain trust.

Also slated for the Philippines this year are the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournaments in July and the second window of the Asia Cup qualifiers that will be held in late November.