Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone is optimistic about the team’s chances as they gear up to face New Zealand’s Tall Blacks in the second window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
The much-anticipated match will take place on Thursday at the Mall of Asia Arena, with a roaring home crowd expected to back the Filipino squad. Cone believes the Tall Blacks have yet to encounter a team like the one Gilas has assembled for this campaign.
“I don’t think they’ve seen a team like the team we’re assembling before, so I think we got a shot at beating them,” Cone shared during a press conference on November 13.
Cone emphasized the importance of defending their home court and showcasing their abilities to fans across the country. “We want to certainly protect our home court, and we want to show ourselves to our fans around the country. These are all very, very important to us, and so I really expect us to be ready and motivated to play,” he added.
Recent Performance and Challenges
Since Cone took the reins earlier this year, Gilas has logged wins against Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei in the Asia Cup Qualifiers and a victory over Latvia in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. However, the team also faced setbacks, losing to Georgia and Brazil during the Olympic qualifiers.
As for New Zealand, Cone noted that the Tall Blacks are undergoing adjustments under their new coach, Judd Flavell. “They do have a new coach, so their system is going to change a little bit. They’re bringing over slightly different personnel than in past years,” he said. The Gilas coaching staff has been studying the new lineup closely.
Roster Updates
The Gilas pool remains largely intact, though there are notable changes. Jamie Malonzo is sidelined with an injury, and AJ Edu remains doubtful for Thursday’s game. However, fans can take comfort in the return of Kai Sotto, who has been cleared to play in this crucial matchup.
With the team’s determination and Cone’s strategic vision, Gilas Pilipinas aims to deliver a spirited performance and claim a victory against the Tall Blacks.