Tim Cone sums up Gilas’ performance against Australia’s ‘B-Team’

Gilas guard Justin Brownlee (with ball) puts the move on Aussie center Sam Froling early in their Fiba window match at the Mall of Asia Arena at press time. —MARLO CUETO

Coach Tim Cone couldn’t hide his disappointment after seeing Gilas Pilipinas absorb another home defeat in the Fiba World Cup Qualifiers, a result more stinging than the one the Nationals endured a few nights earlier.

Australia dealt Gilas a 93-66 beating on Sunday night, never mind if this version of Aussies is not even the A-Team that that country could send, but one that played with the same remarkable efficiency that upheld the Boomers’ reputation as one of the best in world basketball.

“It was painful to watch,” Cone said in all honesty after Gilas saw its energy sputter out in the second half at the Mall of Asia Arena in the match that served as the first between the two countries on Philippine soil since the infamous brawl that broke out in July 2018.

Gladly for many, including the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and its counterpart Basketball Australia, there were no blows traded this time, only lopsided basketball action in favor of the Aussies—as was the same case eight years ago in Bocaue, Bulacan.

And once the venue went empty, the only concern was how Gilas would respond moving forward, especially in the second round of qualification.

Despite losing for the second straight time counting Thursday’s narrow 69-66 setback at the hands of New Zealand, to fall to a 2-2 record, Gilas is still assured of going to the next round.

New Zealand earlier in the day eliminated Jericho Cruz and Guam with a 99-67 rout.

It was also just the second win in four games for the Kiwis.

When asked if the two defeats could be considered as steps in the right direction, Cone paused a bit before responding.

“I don’t want to use this loosely, but when you fail, you get better, hopefully,” Cone said as he would obviously want to see his charges shoot better than 35 percent (22-for-63) in their next games.

He and Gilas hope to do so in July when they endure the cold conditions of Australia and New Zealand to close out the first round.

What’s ahead

From there, it will be the second round where Cone feels that the World Cup berth will be secured should it put out great results against teams from the Middle East across three windows.

Looking far ahead, Gilas has Group C teams Jordan, Iran, Syria or Iraq.

Australia improved to 4-0 in Group A behind Elijah Pepper, who torched the Filipinos with 28 points and seven rebounds.

Pepper, who finished with five triples, was big in the third quarter as the Aussies broke away from a five-point halftime lead to post the win, pulling away.

The Filipinos lost the game in the second half, where they scored only 33 points, just over half of what Australia totaled in the same stretch.

Justin Brownlee rebounded from a four-point struggle against New Zealand with 20 points plus eight rebounds and seven assists.

Quentin Millora-Brown was the other Gilas player in double figures with 11 points that went with seven rebounds.