Gilas coach Tim Cone hopes ‘disappointing’ Doha run makes team better

Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone during the Fiba Asia Cup 2025 qualifiers game. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Gilas Pilipinas didn’t have the stellar run it was expected of in the Doha International Cup but coach Tim Cone hopes it’s just a rough patch on the road to progress.

Before Gilas’ main quest—the final leg of the 2025 Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers—Cone descried that the Philippines’ three-game run in Doha as nothing short of “disappointing.”

“Honestly, it’s been disappointing so far. we didn’t perform as well as we wanted to in Doha,” bared Cone.

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“Anytime we’re playing on the world stage against other national teams, it’s very important that we win, no doubt about it. We want to represent our country well and we want our fans back home to feel proud.”

Gilas had quite the forgettable time in Doha, finishing with just one win in the pocket tournament. Its lone win against Qatar was only by three points, 74-71.

Then the Filipinos lost two straight games, all by way of blowouts.

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Tough as the losses were, Cone hoped that the lopsided losses and experience they absorbed in Doha would propel them for the real test ahead, which is the main Fiba Asia Cup event in August.

“We’re hoping that the Doha experience, despite it being disappointing, makes us better,” Cone said.

“Bottomline is, the Doha games were a development camp for us so as much as they were important they weren’t crucial.”

Already assured of a seat in the 2025 Fiba Asia Cup in Saudi Arabia, a sweep of the group phase may land Gilas a better seeding for the continental meet.