CHICAGO - Just in time for the beginning of lent, the Second Coming of Tim Cone as full-time head coach of Gilas Pilipinas began in earnest today in Laguna.
Although it was held behind closed doors and away from the prying eyes of the media, a source gave SPIN.ph a sneak peek of what transpired at Inspire.
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"We had two practices today," said a Samahang Basketbol Ng Pilipinas (SBP) official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he wasn't sure he was "authorized to speak" on the matter.
I could understand why the federation is treating this as though it was a sensitive matter of national security. FIBA windows are serious business.
Given then, Gilas didn't immediately burn the floors at practice. Which makes sense considering that two pillars - June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez - were given the day off to rest and savor their Commissioner's Cup title.
"We ran our offensive sets," said the source. "It was mostly about familiarity."
The long but eventful Thursday concluded with dinner at the Inspire dining area. Team bonding at its purest form, players and the coaching staff breaking bread as one unit.
In case you're wondering, Justin Brownlee "looked good and in shape" despite being inactive while his case of testing positive for a banned substance was being adjudicated in the months after the Hangzhou Asian Games last October.
SO DID KAI SOTTO AND THE REST OF THE GUYS.
"They all looked good, to be honest. But it's hard to tell when everyone is excited," another SBP official who watched the out-of-town proceedings also told SPIN.ph.
Speaking of Kai, his reps at Wasserman Sports told me that Sotto will return to Yokohama in the Japan B.League after fulfilling his Gilas duties on February 22 (versus Hongkong) and February 25 (versus Chinese Taipei).
With his Japan contract ending this year, the plans for the 7-foot-4 center haven't changed. Once his duties in Japan are fulfilled, he will return to the US to train, enter NBA mini camps, and play in the Summer League in the hope of securing the much-coveted NBA roster spot.
For now, though, it's only Gilas on Sotto's mind.
The swiftness with which Sotto enlisted for this window, plus the noticeable lack of drama as it pertains to his participation, is a huge feat for the new SBP regime under executive director Erika Dy.
Of course, SBP president Al Panlilio deserves credit as well for providing the nuts and bolts that Dy has so far adroitly put together.
As for coach Cone, he knows what he's doing. His credentials literally scream success.
Indeed, these are exciting times for Gilas.
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