Gilas coach Tim Cone excited to see Justin Brownlee on Asian Games stage

Tim Cone and Justin Brownlee have won a number of titles in the PBA since they started working together in 2016, copping six championships highlighted by four Governors' Cup crowns.

Now, they have a chance to win one in an international stage as Cone has been tapped to lead Gilas Pilipinas in the Asian Games slated for later this month in Hangzhou, China while Brownlee is tipped to reinforce the squad.

"Obviously we really need him because he makes the people around him better," Cone said during a press conference on Thursday.

"I'm really looking forward to seeing him on that stage."

Cone, though, said that Brownlee is still recovering from the foot injury he sustained weeks ago during training with the nationals. Still, the multi-titled PBA coach said he is expecting to have Brownlee around when they see action in the Asiad.

"I spoke to him, he's still recovering from his surgery but he's back on the court and he wants to play. And he will play in the Asian Games. We are assuming he's gonna be 100 percent," Cone added.

"Even if he's not 100 percent, he is still a huge help."

Gilas is bunched in Group C and will take on Bahrain on September 26 before slugging it out against SEA Games rival Thailand on September 28. The Filipinos will close out the preliminaries against Jordan on the 30th.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News