CHICAGO — If it were up to him, “from a coaching standpoint,” Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone wants his players “get paid.”
Asked if Kai Sotto was worth $50,000 every FIBA window, here’s what the 25-time PBA champion coach said on Thursday night.
“He is worth more than that, and just in terms of that.”
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But Cone also understands the budgetary constraints and other issues that led the Samahang Basketbol Ng Pilipinas (SBP) to adopt the equal pay policy.
“I got to support the program and the overall idea of the program….. And I think the way they (SBP) are going about it is the right way.”
The former Alaska and Magnolia play-caller reiterated the sacrifice that national team players need to make.
FOR THE FLAG.
“If you’re coming in here to play for the national team to make money, to create a living, then this is not the right team to play for,” added Cone, whose Gilas compensation is nowhere near his Ginebra salary.
Money, the root of all evil, was a huge, unwanted distraction that wrapped the SBP prior to hosting New Zealand and Australia.
Quentin Millora-Brown almost missed action before a last-minute Zoom meeting was able to iron out a contract that guaranteed the 6-foot-10 giant’s appearance.
While Sotto ultimately did not play as he continues to recover from an ACL injury, sources told me that both sides quietly tried to reach a deal but were unsuccessful.
Kai”s absence was instrumental in Gilas’ defeat to the Tall Blacks and the Boomers, Cone admitted.
“I think we’re a really good team without Kai. But with Kai we’re levels better because he’ll make everybody around him better,” Cone explained.
'HE COMPLETES THE PUZZLE FOR US.'
While describing the 7-foot-3 center as a “rim protector and a “terrific passer” who makes the triangle “flow,” Cone added, “he completes the puzzle, so yeah we need Kai.”
Again, decisions on players’ salaries are not his to make nor his “ responsibility “ but coach Tim is championing other causes.
In a flight from Manila to Guam last November, a source told me that QMB sat on coach and struggled to mimic a contortionist to prevent his approximately 38-inch leg from touching the seat in front of him.
Other extra large human brings such as EJ Edu and June Mar Fajardo had similar discomfort.
Thanks to Cone’s relentless push, Gilas players now sit on business class on flights beyond five hours.
And this is why everybody loves to play for coach Tim Cone.
It’s not for that sandy brown hair or dancing green eyes. It’s because he has a beating heart that always looks after the welfare of others.
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