Gilas Pilipinas seizes every opportunity to build chemistry

MANILA, Philippines: Gilas Pilipinas can’t waste any time.

Holding a comfortable 47-point lead with six minutes remaining in the clock, 90-43, Gilas Pilipinas maintained its intensity on both ends of the floor en route to a 106-53 victory against Chinese Taipei in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers at the Philsports Arena on Sunday, February 25.

Gilas Pilipinas seizes every opportunity to build chemistry

For Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone, this is not about showing off or giving no mercy to their opponent. This is, he said, a perfect time to build on their team chemistry.

“That is one of the reasons why down the stretch of this game, even though we are up by 40 points we still put in the first group, the starting lineup. I told the guys, this is not about you to run up the score. This is about you having a time together,” Cone said after the game.

After sweeping the first window, Cone said that the national players will return to their mother teams in the PBA and Japan B.League.

With each player having his own commitment to their mother teams, Gilas Pilipinas will only have 10 days to prepare for the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying tournament that will begin in July.

Cone made it clear that the team’s main goal is to make the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, it will be an uphill climb for the Filipinos who will face No. 8 Latvia on July 3, and No. 23 Georgia on July 4.

“We wish we had one more game to play next week or in a couple of days so we can keep this group together, but that is not something we can control. I do not think there is one guy in our team that is not looking forward to June (Gilas training) and getting back together and getting this team going,” Cone said.

Looking back on their game against Chinese Taipei, Chris Newsome said that their blowout win is not about the score anymore, but about Cone’s instruction to use this as an opportunity for them to blend as a team.

“We did not have enough practice time, so the last thing coach (Cone) said is use this as a practice. Do not pay attention to the score and keep playing basketball on that same level,” he said.