WHEN it comes to purpose in playing for the country, this Gilas Pilipinas team for the Asian Games has it all - and then some.
The national team built precisely for the Asiad is down to its final week before they play their first game against Bahrain in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, and head coach Tim Cone likes what he is seeing from the players, particularly their positive vibes towards their inclusion in the roster.
Cone is now shifting his focus on the Asian Games after spending more time with the FIBA squad, but has been kept abreast with preparations led by assistants Richard Del Rosario, Jong Uichico, and Josh Reyes.
“My first day of practice was really more about being an observer, but I really like the way guys are playing,” he said during an online press conference on Thursday.
“I love the chemistry. I love how motivated they are, how excited they all are to be on this basketball team. They are super excited. So you get that kind of motivation going, you can do some stuff with that kind of team. So we are looking forward to it.”
This 11-man Gilas team is composed of Robert Bolick, Don Trollano, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, Jerrick Ahanmisi, Sedrick Barefield, Adrian Nocum, Zavier Lucero, RJ Abarrientos, Justin Arana, Justine Baltazar, and Brandon Bates.
READ: Bolick makes Gilas comeback, shows way for PH in Asian Games
For his part, Del Rosario said the players’ interest in joining the national team has translated into better reception to the system they want to play for the Asiad.
“I think the best asset of the team, the players, is how receptive they were to what we're trying to do,” said Del Rosario, who spearheaded the preparations starting August 19, as Cone focused on the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian qualifiers.
“Sometimes, what we're teaching is not really what they're taught in their own respective teams, but they've been open-minded, they've embraced the philosophies that we've been trying to teach them because the most important thing is that everybody's on the same page."
Gilas vs. Gilas
Following their two tune-up games against the FIBA squad back in Manila, the Gilas Asian Games side gets to size up South Korea national team also bound for the quadrennial meet when they play a pair of matches in Suwon.
The Korean team also played in the recent FIBA WC qualifiers, splitting their assignments after losing to Lebanon, 93-74, and winning against Saudi Arabia, 85-72.
“We're looking forward to see how we match up with a Korean team who's been together for a while. They've been playing the windows so they're together for a while. So we'll see how we match up to them,” 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.
