Tim Cone open to possibility of expanding Gilas pool

Kai Sotto
Photo: FIBA

Coach Tim Cone will soon ponder if Gilas Pilipinas would eventually add more players to its pool after injuries marred the national team’s campaign in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT).

“I don’t see us making any changes to the 12 at this point, as long as we can continue to get the team healthy,” Cone said on Thursday at the PBA Draft Combine at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

Gilas came to the Latvia group of the Paris Olympics qualifier with just 11 players after Scottie Thompson was scratched at the 11th hour because of back issues, and plans to have RR Pogoy as a replacement hit a snag due to visa concerns.

The Nationals eventually ended the OQT with 10 healthy bodies after Kai Sotto hurt his rib cage against Georgia, subsequently missing the semifinal loss to Brazil.

Cone is still figuring out if Jamie Malonzo is going to be available once Gilas returns to the court in November for the second window of the Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers where the Philippines will face New Zealand and Hong Kong.

Malonzo has been out since a freak injury late in Ginebra’s PBA Commissioner’s Cup win over NorthPort in the eliminations.

Torn meniscus

AJ Edu, who played for Gilas in last year’s Fiba World Cup on home soil, has yet to return since suffering a torn meniscus during his stint in the Japan B.League.

“I don’t know when Scottie’s gonna be coming back and Jamie’s gonna be out till the next window,” Cone said. “We hope that AJ will join us at some point, but we will decide (on adding players or not) when we find out come November.

“Will decide at that point who to add and see if they’re available for us. But we will stick with the 12 that we have and there’s a reason why we want to have those three guys that we lacked. So as long as they’re healthy, they’ll continue to be a part of the team.”

For now, Cone is putting his focus back on preparing Ginebra for the coming PBA season. For the draft, the Gin Kings own the 10th pick in the first round, and plan to select who they feel is the best available.

But the health status of Thompson and Malonzo will still affect Ginebra’s preparation for the 49th season which opens in mid-August, though there’s excitement around the team because Justin Brownlee will be back to reinforce the Gin Kings in the Governors’ Cup.

Brownlee is coming off a tremendous showing for Gilas in the OQT, earning a spot in the Latvia tilt’s All-Star Team.

The six-time PBA champion will complete his duties for Indonesian side Pelita Jaya before flying back to Manila to join Ginebra’s buildup.