THERE’S no rest for the champion coach.
Twelve hours after winning the PBA Commissioner’s Cup championship, Tim Cone will be back on the basketball court as he presides over the Gilas Pilipinas practice in preparation for the coming window of the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers.
“I have to go to Gilas practice tomorrow (Thursday). It’s tough because it doesn’t stop at this point,”said Cone of his situation. “When everybody else is taking a break, Gilas is going out there and playing.”
The national team actually began practicing on Wednesday without Cone and other Gilas players who were playing in the midseason conference's title series.
Coaches Jong Uichico, Sean Chambers, and LA Tenorio presided over the Gilas training where six players showed up in AJ Edu, Kevin Quiambao, Carl Tamayo, Dwight Ramos, and new faces Mike Philips and Justin Baltazar.
“Only half of the team showed up because most of these guys are off eason,” said Cone, referring to the players who are under contract in the B. League and Korean Basketball League.
“So we need to bring them back early to get them back in shape.”
Cone added the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas through Executive Director Erika Dy will immediately announce the final 12-man Gilas roster for the next FIBA window on Thursday.
The Gilas coach said in the works are a possible Media Day and an open workout for the fans tentatively set on June 22.
The national team then leaves for Auckland on June 23 where it will have a training camp for at least a week in order to acclimatize to the cold weather of the metropolitan city.
“Masyadong malamig in Auckland right now. So we want to go down there a little early and try to catch up to the weather,” said Cone.
Gilas plays New Zealand on July 3 and then Australia on July 6 in Perth.
The Philippines is currently tied with New Zealand in Group A with an even 2-2 record behind undefeated Australia at 4-0.
Guam is at the bottom of the standings with a 0-4 slate.
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