FILE– Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone during an open training. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—It seems like coach Tim Cone and Gilas Pilipinas will have lots of new banters to work with while they train for the 2025 Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers’ second window.
Before the continental meet, Cone and Gilas swingman Calvin Oftana duked it out for six games in the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals where the latter reigned supreme.
Cone, in turn, might just give Oftana hell in training as he holds the Tropang Giga standout as a part of the national team’s roster.
SCHEDULE: Gilas Pilipinas at Fiba Asia Cup 2025 qualifiers
“When I see him, I’ll smack him across the face for beating me,” said Cone in jest during a Gilas presser in Mandaluyong on Wednesday.
“Calvin will give me a big smile and I’ll give him a big frown when I see him but we’ll move on. He’s a good kid.”
Oftana gave Cone and Ginebra a lot to worry about during their six-game series as he averaged 14.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists in six games that saw TNT emerge over the Gin Kings, 4-2, in its second Govs. Cup win in franchise history.
And to add salt to Cone’s wounds, Oftana was also part of the TNT squad that beat Ginebra last year in the same import-laden conference championship.
But that’s in the PBA.
READ: After Gilas stint, learned Oftana to come out better for TNT
Come November 21, it’s national duty and Cone knows how important his Finals tormentor would be for him in the Gilas lineup.
“Cal’s a good guy. It’s hard to get mad at him because he’s such a nice kid and he’s an important part of what we do,” Cone said of Oftana.
“Guards like him keep the game and floor spread for our guys like June Mar (Fajardo), Kai (Sotto) and Justin (Brownlee) to do their thing.”