'NEVER IMPOSSIBLE' - CONE

IT'S almost goes the saying, it's impossible, but it's possible. This is how deeply I understand and analyzed Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone expressed his burning desire to lead the country back in the Olympics, whether in the Paris Games set in the later part this July or in 2028 Los Angeles edition.

It may sounds ambitious, but then again, if you would really want to dream big, why not dream bigger and if you have the capacity to make your dreams and aspiration into a reality?... Why the hell not....

Cone's four-year blueprint leading to the Olympics, comes in two parts.

The first part, is to come out or at least on top or second best team in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament set from July 2 to 7 in Riga, Latvia, wherein Gilas Pilipinas is also going to meet Georgia, world #23, aside from host Latvia (#6). That's only the first preliminary.

The Nationals must likewise hurdle the second phase of the eliminations, against the top two teams in the other group, which is made up of # 12 Brazil, Cameroon( 68) and Montenegro (17) to book a ticket to Paris.

In this part, Cone's route to the so-called "Promise Land" was met by a series of setbacks. There was the abrupt change of mind by Lithuania (10), Slovenia (11) and Czech Republic (18), as these teams previously invited Gilas Pilipinas to have a tune up games. But for unseen circumstances, the plan will no longer happen, Lithuania reversed it's decision and instead invited our Asian rival in Lebanon, which ranked at #28. and Slovenia.

Though the belittling didn't matter to Cone, as the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), managed to come-up with a back-up plan and still manages to arrange the much needed tune-up games against, still the best teams in Europe in Turkiyie (24) and Poland (15). I would say, good job, not bad at all SBP. The Nationals are set fly to Istanbul on June 27 before proceeding to Warsaw couple of days after.

Injuries have been a factor to be considered by SBP and Gilas-Pilipinas, with E.J. Edu, who is one Gilas' versatile big man at 6-10, nursing a long standing knee-injury three months now, Dwiight Ramos (6-6), who sustain an eye injury in his last game in Japan B-League. Naturalized player Justine Brownlee was also included in the casualty list with a slight contusion on his spurs bone.

But all those thing, didn't even moved Cone or had him worry a bit. He's confident thing will work out just fine and believes those injured guys will soon recover just in time for the 10-day rigid training in Laguna at the Inspire Athletics Academy. starting from June 22.

Cone's optimism has inspired the new batch of Gilas generation as he admitted that he indeed believed there are hard things to do, but nothing's impossible, so with his firmed statement, he knows facing the world #6 Latvia is going to be really hard, but remain confident it's not impossible to happen.

In term of size and athleticism, the American bench tactician believed his has all the necessary size and athleticism from backcourt to frontcourt that can match the speed and agility that of the Europeans that can outsize them. And though that some European players may outsize or maybe physical than his wards. Cone tough on his stand that they're not to be overwhelmed by anybody's size or athleticism.