CHICAGO -- A new year. A new beginning.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) will officially announce tomorrow that Tim Cone is the new head coach of Gilas Pilipinas, multiple sources told SPIN.ph.
READ: Erika Dy hopes new Gilas coach puts 'best foot forward' in forming player pool
Cone emerged from a short list of candidates, getting the nod for an impeccable resume' that he capped with a banner 2023 where he led Gilas to golden performances at the Sea Games in Cambodia and the Asian Games in China.
Cone also garnered the highest metrics when it came to acceptability and likability among the stakeholders and fans.
While Cone's appointment was hardly any surprise, the new team manager who will replace the long-tenured and since retired Butch Antonio was a bit of a surprise.
But a very good choice, nonetheless.
RICHARD DEL ROSARIO
Currently an assistant coach at Ginebra, Del Rosario was picked because he was believed to be the person that could work best with Cone.
And SBP understood the importance of having a coach and team manager marching in lock-step as Gilas plunges into a new Fiba cycle that begins with the upcoming Asia Cup qualifiers next month.
To be clear, though, Del Rosario didn't get the job just because of his association with Cone. Richard is supremely qualified, a basketball lifer who has earned his dues as a former star player, an assistant coach and a TV analyst.
Just a good dude all around. Once upon a time in his life, Del Rosario sold cellphones for a living. Now, he's in a position to make the big calls for our national team.
He's living the dream and it's hard not to root for this story of perseverance and triumph.
The SBP will also announce the pool of players tomorrow.
And while the top officials of the federation were tight-lipped as Jehovah's Witnesses, sources told me that these three players are in - Scottie Thompson, Calvin Oftana and Dwight Ramos.
And for the first time in forever, neither Kiefer or his equally-famous brother, Thirdy Ravena, will be in the pool.
A MIXED BAG.
Overall, half will be PBA players plus a slew of Japan B. League regulars.
While fans were getting antsy about the pace with which the latest iteration of Gilas was being put together, SBP quietly buckled down to work and ignored the noise.
Amid pressure for him to be quick, SBP president Al Panlilio chose a slower pace that led him to a series of great decisions that began with the hiring of new executive director Erika Dy.
Kudos to Mr. Panililio for staying the course.
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