WITH the national selection committee starting to lay the groundwork for the formation for the new national basketball team, Purefoods coach Tim Cone has offered his full support.
Cone told reporters recently he wants all his players to be considered by the selection committee formed by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
“I would love to see all my players in the national team. I would like to see James (Yap), PJ (Simon), and Joe (Devance) there. Ping (Mark Pingris) is already there,” said Cone.
He made special mention of his court general Mark Barroca.
“Mark Barroca would be great to have there,” Cone said.
That, however, would be easier said than done, considering the SBP has in the past had a difficult time securing the release of players Gilas wanted from their mother teams in the PBA.
[See SBP receptive as PBA bats for 'one player per team' Gilas loan plan]
Barroca, a former member of the all-amateur Smart Gilas team under Rajko Toroman, has been mentioned by Fiba Asia Mythical Five member Jayson Castro as a top candidate for Gilas along with fellow Gilas 1 cager JVee Casio.
Cone agreed.
“I don’t want to step into the toes of the selection committee. I would like Mark to do it because it will be such an honor for Mark to do it,” said Cone.
[See Jayson Castro says Barroca, Casio should be 'shoo-ins' for revamped Gilas lineup]
But the two-time grand slam champion coach admitted it would be very tough to select who will compose the next batch of Gilas Pilipinas players, mainly because of the number of talent in the Philippines.
“But there is a finite number of players to select. And that’s the hard part in coaching. It’s not the 12 that you select, it’s how you say who didn’t make it to the 12. It’s really, really hard because they are all great players,” said Cone, adding that ultimately it will all depend on the next coach and the new system.
“The makeup of your team, it’s not just about getting the best players. You figure out your system and just see how who will fit. The players Coach Chot pick will be different from who I pick. My system is different. You can’t say this guy deserves to be there. A lot of players are deserving but it depends on the system,” Cone said.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
