WHILE away on Gilas Pilipinas duty, Tim Cone said Barangay Ginebra's preparations for its PBA 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup semifinal against top-seed NorthPort won’t be affected - much less neglected.
The Ginebra coach said his coaching staff in Manila will preside over practices but he will remain involved in the preparations while with Gilas in FIBA Asia Cup 2025 qualifiers against Chinese Taipei on February 20 and New Zealand on February 23.
READ RJ Abarrientos, Ralph Cu join Gilas in Inspire training camp
Cone will be with deputy Richard Del Rosario, Justin Brownlee, Scottie Thompson, Jamie Malonzo, and Troy Rosario at Gilas. Japeth Aguilar will not be taking part in the Doha friendlies to attend to a 'personal matter,' and will join the team in Taiwan.
“I’ve got a staff. We can review video when we’re over there if there’s any free time,” said Cone, who will also be in Doha for a quad-nation friendlies. “If there’s any free time, we can take a gander.
“But we do have a staff. Coach Olsen (Racela) and Coach Kirk (Collier), Coach Jamil (Lipae), they will really delve into NorthPort while we’re gone.
“The team will continue to practice while Japeth will be here for the first couple of practices for the team, then he’ll meet us in Taiwan,” said Cone.
“And then, Scottie, Justin, Jamie, and Troy will all be with us through the whole trip, and Richard and I will be there and Patrick (Partosa). So it takes half the staff a way,” said Cone.
Energy level for NorthPort series
Cone isn’t too concerned that Ginebra players will be in different continents while it prepares for NorthPort, a team which gained the No. 1 seed in the playoffs since the Gilas players will remain in shape as they play the FIBA games.
One thing that Cone hopes is that the energy won’t be affected when the Gilas players shifts focus from FIBA to the PBA.
“We will figure a way. I don’t fear that. Preparing for more than a week or two weeks is too long,” Cone said.
“Our guys will just try to stay sharp and these guys will be playing meaningful games. I think that will help them in terms of coming back and playing.
“It’s just going to be the energy levels that we have to be concerned with. Will they have the energy to come back and start a long series with NorthPort and be at the top of their game?” Cone said.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
