STRAIGHT from the airport after 24-hour flight, layovers included, from Spain, Tim Cone joined Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes on the bench for the team's final pre-World Cup tuneup against Mexico on Monday night.
But more than his presence, it was the reams of information the multi-titled coach brought in from Granada, Spain that will be vital as Gilas enters the final stretch of its preparation for the Fiba Basketball World Cup.
READ: Dominican Republic coach not taking Gilas lightly
Cone, you see, travelled all the way to the city of 232,208 in southern Spain’s Andalusia region to file a dossier on the Dominican Republic, the national team’s opening opponent at 8 p.m. on August 25 at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
Cone was there when the Dominican Republic, powered by Minnesota Timberwolves forward Karl Anthony Towns, beat Canada 94-88 in a tune-up game, and when Spain narrowly escaped with victory, 86-77, over the world No. 23.
Towns and Co. hit town on Monday night and Reyes said the team will be Gilas' sole focus starting now.
“Wala na, puro Dominican Republic na,” he said, stressing further that the “the next three days [of practice] will be all purely Dominican.”
Team viewing of video footage Cone brought back from his scouting mission, Reyes said, will highlight Tuesday’s training at 4 p.m before Gilas, still officially at 16 players, proceeds to the Philsports Arena playing court for their 6-8 p.m. practice.
Gilas went 1-2 (win-loss) in its final three-game stretch before the World Cup, beating Ivory Coast before losing to Montenegro and Mexico, which pulled off an 84-77 win against a host team missing Jordan Clarkson on Monday night.
But more than the results, Reyes said the Gilas achieved its primary goal in the three friendlies, which was to integrate fit-again Scottie Thompson, Clarkson and Kai Sotto in the team.
“Na-integrate Scottie, Jordan and Kai [Sotto] to the team," Reyes said. "Ngayon puro Dominican na [and focus].”
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