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Tim Cone units a lofty goal as Gilas Pilipinas seeks to finish a four-decade title drought within the FIBA Asia Cup
MANILA, Philippines – It has been 4 a long time since Gilas Pilipinas final gained the FIBA Asia Cup and Tim Cone needs to vary that.
Cone mentioned successful the gold is the aim after the Nationals pulled off a 103-98 comeback win over the Macau Black Bears on Monday, July 28, of their send-off sport for the continental showdown set in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia beginning August 5.
The victory bodes effectively for the Filipinos, who will go away the nation on Wednesday, July 30, with hopes of a deep run after an underwhelming marketing campaign within the 2022 version.
“Our aim is a gold medal. That’s our aim. We’re going to go on the market to attempt to win a gold medal. Will we? I’m unsure. That’s actually our aim,” mentioned Cone.
The final time the Philippines gained the Asia Cup was in 1985, again when the event was nonetheless referred to as the Asian Basketball Confederation Championship.
Allan Caidic, who earned event MVP honors then, led that Northern Consolidated Cement crew additionally that includes PBA legends Samboy Lim, Jerry Codiñera, and Hector Calma.
Gilas Pilipinas got here near ending that golden drought a decade in the past however misplaced within the finals in opposition to Iran in 2013 and in opposition to China in 2015.
Cone, although, goals to take it one step at a time.
“That’s not what we’re targeted on, although. We’re targeted on on daily basis, what we do on daily basis. We’re targeted proper now on the primary sport we play, and past that, there’s nothing,” mentioned Cone.
“Proper now, our aim, is actually to win a gold medal. We’ll do what we are able to to get there. We’re not going to look that far forward. Proper now, our aim is there, however our focus is what’s proper in entrance of us and that’s follow on Wednesday.”
Up in opposition to New Zealand, Chinese language Taipei, and Iraq in Group D, the Philippines should end throughout the prime three to advance to the following spherical.
The No. 1 within the group will earn an outright spot within the quarterfinals, whereas the No. 2 and three groups will vie for a top-eight berth within the crossover playoffs.
In 2022, the Nationals reached the crossover playoffs however acquired drubbed by Japan as they missed the Asia Cup quarterfinals for the primary time in 15 years.
With Justin Brownlee main the best way, particularly after his 32-point, 15-rebound, 5-assist outing in opposition to the Black Bears, the Philippines hopes to show its fortunes round and pull off the unbelievable in opposition to a troublesome discipline counting defending champion Australia, China, and Japan as sturdy contenders.
However earlier than the true motion begins, Gilas Pilipinas faces Jordan on August 2 in its closing tuneup sport for the Asia Cup. – Rappler.com
