“IF you need me… Please, feel free to call me”
This was the short but meaningful message that former Gilas Pilipinas sniper Jordan Heading wants to relay to national coach Tim Cone.
In an interview with SPIN.ph, Heading admitted that playing for Gilas again will be most special for him especially now that Cone is at the helm of the national squad, saying he enjoyed the chance of working with Chot Reyes' former deputy and experiencing his ‘greatness’ as a coach during his last stint with Gilas in 2021.
READ Heading savors love of home fans, Gilas 'brotherhood'
“That last time I was with Gilas, I enjoyed being able to spend some time with him, back then I thought he just has a high level (of knowledge) of the way he views the game and the way he goes about it… You can tell that he has been around the game for so long and he knows how to get guys (to perform best) in different spots,” said Heading.
“He (Cone) runs his system the way he wants it and that’s very important. For a national team to have a lot of buildup to make a tournament having a lot of chemistry and to have a lot of experience within a system, I think that’s very important,” he added.
Heading believes that the SBP made the right move in finally elevating Cone to the Gilas head coaching job - and that if given the chance, he would make himself available to play for the national team.
“I think this is a great move by the SBP. Of course, I love playing for coach Tim. He has proven himself time and time again and that maybe the reason he got picked. He’s an incredible coach,” said the 28-year old shooter.
It will be recalled that when Gilas had a pressing need for a shooter in the last Fiba World Cup team of Reyes, Heading was mysteriously dropped from the final pool. Sources said a miscommunication between the former Gilas management and Heading’s camp led to his exclusion, which was later described as ‘due to an injury’.
Asked to comment on his non-inclusion to the World Cup suqad, Heading suddenly turned elusive.
“I’d rather not talk about it. It’s better we talk about my willingness to play for Gilas again,” he said. “Every time that I put on the Gilas jersey, it’s something different, playing for our country. I think that (playing for Gilas again) that will be extra special."
Heading is currently in Australia where he will spend the next months playing in the NBL's off-season league, the NBL 1, where he will try to ‘get back to his roots and further hone his skills with the West Adelaide Bear Cats.
Is he expecting a call for Cone and the SBP soon?
“I don’t have expectations of any talks or calls for anything to come. If I am being honest, I think I will be very excited to get a call from Gilas. Everyone would love to play for Gilas, everyone wants to play and put on that jersey. And like I said, I feel so different every time I put on that jersey,” he said.
'That's not up to me'
Looking at the current 12-man lineup of Cone, Heading was asked if he thinks he still sees an opening or a slot for him.
“That’s not up to me, but I have confidence in my self that I have things that I can bring to the table that will always help the team,” he said.
“But at the same time, I think they’ve got a great group of guys and obviously they had such a strong showing. There’s a lot of excitement about the program right now and the way it’s heading. Obviously, I’d love to be part of that,” added Heading.
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