Will Tim Cone remain as Gilas coach beyond Asian Games? Ginebra mentor answers

Tim Cone has been named as the Gilas Pilipinas head coach for the upcoming Asian Games, replacing Chot Reyes at the helm after the latter announced that he is stepping down from the post.

But will the Barangay Ginebra tactician remain at the helm even after the Asiad tilt?

According to Cone, the winningest PBA coach, his assignment is on an interim basis with only 19 days left before the tournament, but it will give the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) more time to look for another coach for the future.

SBP president Al Panlilio added that 'continuity' is one of the factors for tapping Cone, who served as one of Reyes' assistant coaches in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

"I am the interim coach at this point. If you remember back in 2019, we had the World Cup and the SEA Games was coming up and they asked me to do it," Cone said in a press conference at the PBA Office on Thursday.

"At this point, I'm just the interim for the Asian Games and then I give the SBP time to explore and figure out the direction it wants to go and the person they want to lead that. And I'm very good with that."

Cone also recalled the last time he called the shots in the Asian Games in 1998, where the Philippines copped the bronze medal behind stars like Johnny Abarrientos, Marlou Aquino, Allan Caidic, Jojo Lastimosa, and Olsen Racela, among others.

"It's amazing how things have grown since that time in 1998 and believe me, 1998, it's always been in my mind because that was such a hard undertaking at the time," he added.

"And to come here and do it again, it kind of takes my breath away."

Cone has yet to reveal the final lineup but bared some shoo-ins for the squad namely June Mar Fajardo, Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, and naturalized Justin Brownlee.

Serving as his deputies are Richard Del Rosario, Josh Reyes, LA Tenorio, and Jong Uichico with Alfrancis Chua and Willie Marcial serving as team manager and assistant team manager, respectively.

Gilas is looking to start a training camp on Monday at the Inspire Sports Academy in Laguna.

"Thank you, Tim, for really agreeing to this. We're all behind him. We're putting all resources we can to support the Asian Games," Panlilio said

—JMB, GMA Integrated News