Tim Cone will be Gilas shotcaller in upcoming SEA Games

By: Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Tim Cone, the winningest coach in the history of the Philippine Basketball Association, will handle the Philippine National men’s basketball team this coming Southeast Asian Games.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Al Panlilio confirmed and announced Cone’s assignment on Monday, September 23, 2019.

The current head coach of the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and the former orchestrator of the 1998 Philippine team that placed an impressive third place accepted the coaching stint with no hesitation and is excited to work with the SBP and the players he will ultimately choose for the pool.

“I will sit down with the SBP over the next couple of days and come up with a plan of attack in terms of preparation, and we’re hoping by the end of the week, we’ll have a pool of players working together at full force,” Cone said.

However, the SBP and Cone still haven’t agreed if Cone will coach the Gilas for good or until the next FIBA tournaments, they only agreed about the SEA Games.

“We’re still putting together a plan on how to move forward with our preparations for 2023 and beyond,” Panlilio stated.