Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone during the Philippine team’s sendoff game against the Macau Black Bears.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines–Tim Cone is giving Gilas Pilipinas players the keys. Now, it’s up to them to drive.
Before the Philippines’ first game in the 2025 Fiba Asia Cup, Cone said it’s time for the players to show how they really play on the big stage.
LIVE: Gilas Pilipinas vs Chinese Taipei – 2025 Fiba Asia Cup
“Now it’s on the players. We’ve done what we can as the staff and now it’s on the players to go out there and really play their game. That’s the point of it,” said Cone.
“We don’t want to make it so restricted for them that they don’t play their natural game. These guys are talented players.”
Cone gave his players the green light in Gilas’ last tune-up before flying to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
SCHEDULE: Gilas Pilipinas at 2025 Fiba Asia Cup
He let Justin Brownlee take 14 shots, which led to a monster double-double in a 103-98 win. Brownlee finished with 32 points and 15 rebounds.
But with Brownlee long thriving under Cone’s system, a better sign of Cone loosening the reins was Kevin Quiambao’s showing.
Gilas Pilipinas Justin Brownlee and Dwight Ramos during a tune-up game ahead of the Fiba Asia Cup. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Quiambao, who had a limited role during Gilas’ Asia Cup Qualifiers, had his way and went 5-of-7 from the field to finish with 14 points. AJ Edu also got his groove as he finished with 15 markers in Kai Sotto’s absence.
“We have to let them play with their flow, give them structure when we can, and that’s the key about a national team. You have to let the national team players play their own game,” Cone said.
“Hopefully, that’s what we achieve a little bit but you never really know and we won’t know until about 10:30 later tonight.”
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Cone will see how well Gilas takes the reins in the opening game against Chinese Taipei on Wednesday at 2 am (Philippine time).