Tim Cone blames poor start in Gilas’ stunning loss to Taiwan in FIBA Asia Cup

The Ultimate Guide to Bouncing Back from Gilas' Stunning Loss to Taiwan in FIBA Asia Cup

As the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 tournament heats up, the Philippines' national team, Gilas, has suffered a stunning defeat at the hands of Taiwan, leaving fans and coaches alike wondering what went wrong. In this ultimate guide, we'll examine the root causes of Gilas' poor start and how they can regroup and refocus to achieve their goals.

A Disappointing Start

Gilas' lackluster performance in the first half set the tone for their 95-87 defeat at the hands of Taiwan. Coach Tim Cone attributed the team's struggles to a poor start, which saw them trailing by as much as 15 points early on.

This is a big roadblock for us, Cone said. We didn't play well in the first half, and it put us behind the eight ball from there. We need to learn from our mistakes and move forward.

A Tough Lesson Learned

The defeat was especially painful given Gilas' previous loss to Taiwan in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 qualifiers last February. The team's aim of ending its 40-year gold medal drought has been dealt a significant blow, leaving fans wondering what could have been.

We're really disappointed by the loss, Cone acknowledged. But we can't dwell on it. We need to focus on our next game and move forward.

New Zealand Awaits

Gilas will need to regroup quickly to face off against New Zealand in their next game, set for Thursday at 11 p.m., Manila time. The Tall Blacks are no strangers to Gilas, having handed them a vengeful loss in the third and final window of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers last February.

New Zealand's early victory over Iraq only adds to the pressure on Gilas. To bounce back from this contentious loss, they'll need to tighten up their game and avoid costly turnovers.

The Path Forward

Coach Cone has urged his team to learn from their mistakes and move forward.

This may be a big roadblock for us, but it's something we have to overcome, he said. If we have to come through the loser's bracket, then we'll try to do that.

By focusing on their next game against New Zealand and avoiding costly errors, Gilas can still turn things around and make a push for the quarterfinals.

Conclusion

Gilas' stunning loss to Taiwan serves as a wake-up call for the team. By identifying the root causes of their poor start and working to correct them, Coach Cone's squad can regroup and refocus on their goal of ending their 40-year gold medal drought. Will they be able to overcome this contentious loss and make a push for the quarterfinals? Only time will tell.

Keywords FIBA Asia Cup 2025, Tim Cone, Gilas, Taiwan, New Zealand, basketball, sports, competition

Edward Lance Arellano Lorilla

CEO / Co-Founder

Enjoy the little things in life. For one day, you may look back and realize they were the big things. Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.