Gilas-Pilipinas rising

AFTER two qualifying windows and a seat in the final round of the FIBA Asia Cup tournament, virtually sealed, Gilas-Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone have yet to see the best potentials of the team his trying to assemble and he believed that there’s more to offer.

Despite the historic win against erstwhile unbeaten New Zealand, 93-89, and Hong Kong, 93-54, last week enabling the nationals undefeated in Group B after four games. Before formally securing a spot to the tournament proper next year to be hosted by Saudi Arabia sometime in August.

But for Cone, who had earlier mention, ahead of Gilas-Pilipinas-New Zealand tussle. “But I don’t think they’ve seen a team like the team we’re assembling and yet we were able to beat the world No. 6 (Latvia) in the last OQT and the No.22 ( New Zealand)” he said.

And yet, the American bench tactician is still trying to “squeeze” every ounce of talent from his very young and talented players he have formed since taking over the coaching cudgels from former Gilas mentor Chot Reyes last summer. “So we’re still trying to see exactly where we can go and how far we can go”

Judging from those statement, Cone truly believed that his team is on the raise towards to higher level of success in the coming competition, aside from FIBA Asia Cup, Southeast Asian slated in December to be held in Bangkok, Thailand also next year, World Cup qualifier in 2026 to be hosted by Qatar and the Asian Games set to stage in Tokyo, Japan in September.

Likewise Cone has high hopes though they (Gilas) managed pull through without two of their big man defensive players in E.J Edu (6-11), who is still in the injury list since the OQT, and Jaime Malonzo (6-7), who also nursing a knee problem. “Despite we missed two our big man defenders, the chemistry and team’s cohesion remain solid,” Cone expressed.

The third window qualifying phase is set in February. And this time Gilas-Pilipinas will play as visitors when it meet Chinese-Taipei first in Taiwan, before squaring off anew with the Tall Blacks in Aukland, New Zealand.

Currently, Gilas-Pilipinas leaped to the No.2 position behind Asia Cup champion Australia, in the FIBA Power Ranking with plus 1 and also ranked second in the region also behind the Aussie.Lebanon, Japan, third and fourth respectively. China is in fifth spot. Jordan and New Zealand took the sixth and seventh places. South Korean, Saudi Arabia and Qatar roundup the top 10 in eight, ninth and 10, respectively.

Though Gilas-Pilipinas topped the two windows with a clean slate, but the nationals remained at No.34 in the FIBA World Ranking, while the Chinese are four notches higher, despite twice beaten by Gilas, during the World Cup and in the Asian Games.

Team USA, as expected, remained on top of the leader board with 869 rating, followed by Serbia (759), in third spot is Germany (755.1), France (753) in fourth, fifth is Canada (747.5). In sixth is Spain (746.6), then in seventh Australia (733.2), Argentina (731.6) in eight position. Ninth is Latvia (710.9) and in 10th is Lithuania (701.3).