Cone not keen on expanding pool despite talent in Gilas’ SEAG team

Title Harking Back to Talent Coach Tim Cone's Reluctance to Expand Gilas Pool Despite SEA Games Success

As the Southeast Asian Games (SEA) men's basketball title settles into history for Gilas Pilipinas, attention turns to the future of the national team. One pressing question is whether coach Tim Cone will consider expanding his current pool of players to include some of the talented individuals who contributed to Norman Black's successful SEA Games campaign.

While acknowledging that the SEA Games squad under Black showcased an abundance of talent, Coach Cone is hesitant to expand the current Gilas pool. In fact, he has already reached out to several members of the victorious team, including Bobby Ray Parks and Matthew Wright, both of whom possess significant international experience that proved invaluable in the SEA Games.

Cone's reluctance to expand the pool stems from his desire to maintain a manageable group of players that can be prepared effectively for competition. With only 12 players able to participate in an official game, he believes it is crucial to focus on building chemistry and cohesion within a smaller group.

We've been looking at Rayray for a long time, Cone recalled. We actually asked him to join us one time, but he couldn't – I think it was the OQT ('cause he was getting engaged. He had an engagement ceremony here. Similarly, Wright's passport issues prevented him from joining the team earlier.

Cone has also considered other players who could bring valuable experience to the Gilas pool. For instance, Jordan Heading was another player whom Coach Cone approached, but unfortunately, he was unavailable at the time due to personal commitments.

The SEA Games squad under Black featured a mix of veteran players and newcomers, including former Gilas members like Robert Bolick, Thirdy Ravena, Poy Erram, Abu Tratter, and Von Pessumal. The team's success can be attributed in part to the solid coaching adjustments made by Black, as well as the contributions from players like Parks and Wright.

In contrast, Coach Cone's Gilas pool has expanded slightly, with the addition of Quentin Millora-Brown, Troy Rosario, and RJ Abarrientos. However, he remains committed to maintaining a smaller pool that can be prepared effectively for competition.

Again, we don't want to increase it to a huge pool because that's too unwieldy for the time of preparation that we have, Cone explained. But when you're talking about five to six practices before you have to play, you can't bring in 20 guys and get them ready.

As Gilas prepares for its next tournament window, Coach Cone's approach will likely continue to prioritize a smaller pool of players who can work together seamlessly. While this may mean that some talented individuals are left out of the loop, it is a strategy designed to ensure the team's long-term success.

Keywords Gilas Pilipinas, SEA Games, basketball, Tim Cone, Norman Black, Bobby Ray Parks, Matthew Wright

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