Gilas Pilipinas, belittled, snubbed, injury... Cone unfaze

GILAS Pilipinas' build-up for the upcoming Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) and head Tim Cone remained optimistic and confident his wards might pull some surprises against Europe's best. following a recent FIBA's forecast, belittling the Nationals' chances.

Then followed a snub by Lithuania, denying Gilas Pilipinas' request to meet the world #10 squad for a tune-up match, based on the latter’s website. Instead they granted three tune up games to Lebanon, which is set next month.

Series of injuries is another factor that might hamper the Gilas' preparation as E.J Edu, the 6-foot-10, wing and slot man, who was reported lately have yet recovered from a leg injury. Dwight Ramos (6-5) power forward, is experiencing a blurry eye condition, he sustained in last game in the Japan B-League. while 6-6 Jaime Malonzo is still recuperating on a knee -injury.

And the worst of it all, naturalized player Justine Brownlee, incurred a spurs bone contusion while playing in the Indonesian Basketball League (IBL) with Pelita Jaya just recently.

But all of these doesn't seem to worry Cone. Not even bothered the PBA's winningest coach to press the panic button and readily come-up with a solution as he brought in two additional back up in the veteran Japeth Aguilar, who had proven his worth in the last FIBA Asia Cup qualifying matches against Hongkong and Chinese-Taipei. The youthful Mason Amos (6-6), who saw action in the Southeast Asian Games last year in Cambodia.

The inclusion of Aguilar and Amos in the line-up, has boosted the previous 12-man lineup to strong 14, thus adding more height, heft and perimeter shooting power. as both players have very good medium range jumper and not to mention, good basketball IQ.

Cone believes that these are all minor setbacks and it doesn't affect his focus in their preparations. In fact there are other European powerhouse who will be willing enough to help and grant Gilas-Pilipinas the much needed tune-up and his wish to have a practice games with Czech Republic (18), probably with no.11 Slovenia.

When asked about the condition of Brownlee, Cone is unfazed, as he believe that the Gilas' Asian Games hero will recover in time saying that Brownlee needed three weeks of since they're set to start practice on June 22 in Inspire Academy in Calamba, Laguna.

The snubbed, belittling and injuries. Only gave the America -born but Philippine raised bench tactician, strong motivation and desire to lead these new batch of Gilas generation to excel beyond their limit at the same time bring out the best potentials from his wards in their preparations when they take on world no.6 Latvia and no.23 Georgia in July.

Meantime, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) has succeeded in convincing San Miguel Beer import in the last Commissioner's Cup, the 6-foot-10 Benny Boatwright to a part of the Gilas' naturalization program as SBP has forwarded all necessary papers for his naturalization to SBP Chairman and Senator Sonny Angara and its is now in the process of acquiring endorsement both upper chamber as well as in the lower house.