The Philippines’ calendar for worldwide tournaments formally begins in February, when Fiba takes the lid off the primary qualification window geared towards the subsequent Basketball World Cup to be held in Qatar.
On paper, Tim Cone stays the coach of Gilas Pilipinas. However the adorned mentor, who helped ship the nation’s first Asian Video games (Asiad) gold medal in over half a century, revealed that nothing has been set in stone.
“That’s nonetheless open to dialogue,” Cone instructed the Inquirer. “I do know that the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is being exhaustive of their search. And though I’m in consideration, I’m not the one candidate.”
Cone was thrust into the forefront of the nationwide group’s teaching saddle after the sudden exit of Chot Reyes proper after the squad gained the final match of its World Cup homestand.
The American, who has made the Philippines his house for over three a long time whereas teaching within the native professional league, was appointed by the nationwide federation as a stopgap measure. However the Asiad bid in Hangzhou, China, yielded one of many most interesting moments within the nation’s checkered basketball historical past leading to followers clamoring for Cone’s continued service.
Preliminary talks
Cone has since sat down with the SBP again in November and shared his insights on this system transferring ahead, however no deal was struck about his stint. He notably mentioned in an occasion organized by journalists masking the PBA that the query of him calling the photographs on a long-term foundation “doesn’t deserve a easy sure or no.”
The SBP can have at the very least this month to establish a head coach and resolve the present assemblage of transferring elements regarding the nationwide group’s composition. And the sooner that these are determined would imply a greater preparation time for the squad.
The earliest worldwide meet, the World Cup Asian Qualifiers, unfurls on Feb. 19 in yet-to-be-finalized areas. An opportunity to make the Paris Summer time Olympic Video games additionally stays open by way of the Olympic Qualifying Event that might be held in July.
Cone assured that the SBP is tough at work in placing collectively a strong scheme—one that’s wealthy with foresight.
“Much more importantly, they’re placing a plan and a imaginative and prescient collectively that will maintain this system by way of the subsequent 4 years into [the] 2027 World Cup in Qatar,” he mentioned.
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