IT was the day after Christmas and Tim Cone has just emerged victorious with Barangay Ginebra in an 86-78 holiday comeback classic against TNT.
But looking back on what has been an unforgettable year for the PBA's winningest coach — from a historic seven-game Finals triumph over the now-defunct Bay Area Dragons to a golden conquest in the Asian Games, Cone shared what now sits atop his Christmas wishlist for the future of Philippine basketball.
READ: Scottie's late treys vs TNT make it a Christmas to remember for Ginebra
“To continue and follow up what we’ve done in the Asian Games," Cone told SPIN.ph.
One thing, in particular, about Gilas' Asiad triumph that Cone wants to continuously see more of come 2024 and beyond is the unwavering support of the sport's stakeholders — from sporting leaders to Pinoy hoops fans anew.
"There was a lot of support. There was a lot of support from the league, from the MVP and San Miguel groups, and from Alfrancis Chua. I just hope we can continue that kind of support and go through," Cone said.
From a competitive standpoint, however, the incumbent Gilas head coach acknowledged how there's still a long and tedious way to go before building a men's basketball national team program that can consistently stand toe-to-toe with the world's best.
But for Cone, one thing's for sure: Gilas' 2023 Asiad team won't be the last squad that Filipinos will be proud of.
"Well, we’re not gonna win everything. We’re not gonna win all the time. There are gonna be some teams that we’ll go up against that will maybe beat us up a little bit. But I think that we can make the country proud if we all stick together and continue to play."
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