Super Gilas Pilipinas

TOUGH times is staring in the face of Gilas Pilipinas as it is readying a masterplan and put up a “Super” Gilas line-up in preparation for two upcoming major tournaments, the FIBA third window World Cup Asian Qualifying round in July in New Zealand and Australia and the !4th edition of the region’s Asian Games slated in September in Japan.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), has given its full support to Gilas head coach Tim Cone, who is given a full blanket authority to utilize the full force in assembling the what it called “Super Gilas Pilipinas” squad to the said campaigns that awaits them.

After Cone and his generational batch of Gilas took a beating during the second qualifying window to the Kiwis, 66-69 and the Boomers, 66-93, respectively. Both matches were played in our homecourt. The pair of defeats sends the National team to a 2-2 win-loss tally in a tie with the Tall Black, while the Aussies were unbeaten with 4-0 card.

At the same time, Gilas-Pilipinas and New Zealand, though both teams are assured of a spot to the next round, but a loss by either squad will put them in a precarious situation.And both are locked in a crucial contest when they both meet again in July, this time the Tall Blacks play host to the visiting Gilas in Auckland.

The Kiwis have reported, made an early preparation, done some major adjustment In their play-pattern. Prolific shooter Corey Webster is said to suit up for New Zealand. While the Boomer, on the other hand, play host as well, when they tackle Gilas anew couple of days in Sydney. Expect Aussies’ pair of three-point shooters in Elaija Pepper and NBA player Josh Quedai.

Thus the lost serves a strong motivation for Cone and his generational Gilas? For coach Tim, he remained confident that his wards will comeback strong in July and its going to be special thing with a renewed fire as they head back to the drawing board. Having said that. I guess Tim is referring to three additional players, Juan Gomez, De Leano, Quintin Millora Brown and Justine Baltazar.

Learning his lessons in the last two defeats, Cone, with a longer preparation, Gilas, is expecting no more room for errors when they face the Tall Blacks and everything should run smoothly according to plan, his greatest expectation.

Though the build-up is quite good, but there’s one piece of the puzzle is missing in Cone’s contingency plan, before qualify for the Qatar staging of the FIBA World Cup. That is our own NBA prospects the 7”3’ Kai Soto, whether will he make it back in the fold for Gilas? As of the moment the former Ateneo Blue Eagle behemoth is doing great together his Koshigawa Alphas in the Japan B League after recovering an ACL injury.

Aside from eying a win either against New Zealand or Australia (An ambitious plan, but it can be done), Cone hopes to retain Gilas’ main core of players when it defend its Gold medal title in the coming Asiad, to be hosted by Japan’s industrial City of Nagoya from Sept. 19 to Oct.6. Cone and a handpicked of players from the PBA, capped a golden run during Honzhou Games in China, beating the Ronda Hollis-Jefferson-led Jordan in the battle for the gold medal.

In building a Super Gilas-Pilipinas for the Asian Games, Cone is expecting San Miguel import Benny Boatwright to team-up with Gilas’ naturalised player Justine Brownlee and the 6”11’ Ange Koume.Also part in coach Tim’s buildup are Justine Arkansas from Converge Fiberxer along 6-7 Micheal Philips, who once played by Gilas during 33rd SEA Games hosted by Cambodia. Boatwright”s naturalisation papers is now being heard in the Senate and SBP is expecting to approved it before the Nagoya Games.

The SBP is leaving no stone unturned, is also concerning to get the services of also naturalised and New York Knicks’ Jordan Clarkson, who earlier expressed his willingness and availability to join the Gilas roster. Thus adding more firepower for the Nationals. Clarkson, also suited up for Gilas during the 2023 FIBA World Cup the country hosted.