From learning experience to growth: ‘Almost isn’t good enough,’ says Cone after Gilas’ semis exit
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From learning experience to growth: ‘Almost isn’t good enough,’ says Cone after Gilas’ semis exit
Rom Anzures,
ABS-CBN News
Published Jul 07, 2024 10:43 AM PHT
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Updated Jul 07, 2024 02:50 PM PHT
Gilas Pilipinas in the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Photo from FIBA.
Gilas Pilipinas in the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Photo from FIBA. MANILA — Gilas Pilipinas put the world on notice in the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
MANILA — Gilas Pilipinas put the world on notice in the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
The Nationals did so after scoring an impressive, historic triumph over the World's no.6-ranked basketball squad Latvia, followed it with an almost 20-point comeback against Georgia, and almost booked a finals spot before they lost steam against Brazil in the second half of their semifinals bout.
The Nationals did so after scoring an impressive, historic triumph over the World's no.6-ranked basketball squad Latvia, followed it with an almost 20-point comeback against Georgia, and almost booked a finals spot before they lost steam against Brazil in the second half of their semifinals bout.
But for team head coach Tim Cone, almost is never enough.
But for team head coach Tim Cone, almost is never enough.
"I don't know what to say. You know, it's funny how we didn't expect to be here. But then, when we got here, we expected to win. It's very painful that we didn't," said Cone during Saturday night's postgame presser.
"I don't know what to say. You know, it's funny how we didn't expect to be here. But then, when we got here, we expected to win. It's very painful that we didn't," said Cone during Saturday night's postgame presser.
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"We're trying to tell ourselves that almost isn't good enough. You know — almost winning, almost getting there, almost that — It's not good enough. We gotta find a way to get over the hump and get there. Tonight, we didn't do that," he continued.
"We're trying to tell ourselves that almost isn't good enough. You know — almost winning, almost getting there, almost that — It's not good enough. We gotta find a way to get over the hump and get there. Tonight, we didn't do that," he continued.
The Filipino cagers were put in that position after they suffered a setback in the second half, and Cone explained what went wrong for the Philippines in their eventual meltdown.
The Filipino cagers were put in that position after they suffered a setback in the second half, and Cone explained what went wrong for the Philippines in their eventual meltdown.
"I think that they put us through the real physical brand of basketball. To be honest, we said this at halftime, we were making tough shots in the first half and they were missing a lot of open shots. We knew that if we didn't turn that around, it was gonna get difficult for us in the second half. We continued to get tough shots and they weren't going in anymore and they started hitting open shots," he explained, while also hailing former NBA players Marcelinho Huertas, Cristiano Felicio, and Bruno Caboclo.
"I think that they put us through the real physical brand of basketball. To be honest, we said this at halftime, we were making tough shots in the first half and they were missing a lot of open shots. We knew that if we didn't turn that around, it was gonna get difficult for us in the second half. We continued to get tough shots and they weren't going in anymore and they started hitting open shots," he explained, while also hailing former NBA players Marcelinho Huertas, Cristiano Felicio, and Bruno Caboclo.
"Huertas hit us hard coming off the ball screens and pulling up, doing nice things. I think we just kind of panicked a little bit. We started doing a lot of one-on-one. We weren't moving the ball like we normally do. We started off strong, but we just couldn't sustain it against their physicality."
"Huertas hit us hard coming off the ball screens and pulling up, doing nice things. I think we just kind of panicked a little bit. We started doing a lot of one-on-one. We weren't moving the ball like we normally do. We started off strong, but we just couldn't sustain it against their physicality."
"We're just lacking a big. We had to overplay our frontline. More than anything, June Mar [Fajardo] got really tired of having to battle numbers 51 (Caboclo) and 6 (Felicio). Those were two guys that were getting it up and rotating on him. It was a tough battle for him being there by himself," added the Barangay Ginebra mentor of Fajardo who had to play over 30 minutes due to the absence of the injured Kai Sotto.
"We're just lacking a big. We had to overplay our frontline. More than anything, June Mar [Fajardo] got really tired of having to battle numbers 51 (Caboclo) and 6 (Felicio). Those were two guys that were getting it up and rotating on him. It was a tough battle for him being there by himself," added the Barangay Ginebra mentor of Fajardo who had to play over 30 minutes due to the absence of the injured Kai Sotto.
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From Learning Experience to Growth
Gilas head coach Tim Cone in the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Photo from FIBA.
Gilas head coach Tim Cone in the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Photo from FIBA.For Cone, there is a silver lining from their Olympic qualifying campaign in Riga -- they gained the understanding that they now have the capabilities to compete and hang with squads that are ranked higher than them.
For Cone, there is a silver lining from their Olympic qualifying campaign in Riga -- they gained the understanding that they now have the capabilities to compete and hang with squads that are ranked higher than them.
"The whole part of bringing this particular program together, which is different from what we had in the World Cup, is the fact that we're gonna hopefully keep these guys together over the next three to four years, trying to keep them together going into the next World Cup," shared Cone, who introduced and implemented his vision following his appointment in early 2024.
"The whole part of bringing this particular program together, which is different from what we had in the World Cup, is the fact that we're gonna hopefully keep these guys together over the next three to four years, trying to keep them together going into the next World Cup," shared Cone, who introduced and implemented his vision following his appointment in early 2024.
"It's hard to talk about this right after you lose, but it's a growth experience for us. It's kind of like a 'Now we know' moment. Now we know we can compete," added the 19th Asian Games gold medalist mentor.
"It's hard to talk about this right after you lose, but it's a growth experience for us. It's kind of like a 'Now we know' moment. Now we know we can compete," added the 19th Asian Games gold medalist mentor.
And what's next for them? Figuring out how to finally translate their growth into on-court success.
And what's next for them? Figuring out how to finally translate their growth into on-court success.
"So how can we get that next step in which we can get a little bit better and not just compete, but win?" said Cone.
"So how can we get that next step in which we can get a little bit better and not just compete, but win?" said Cone.
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"Playing these kinds of tournaments where you're playing three games in four days and it gets harder and harder every game, these are the things that we'll need to adjust to. But like I said, we didn't expect to be here but once we're here, we expected to win."
"Playing these kinds of tournaments where you're playing three games in four days and it gets harder and harder every game, these are the things that we'll need to adjust to. But like I said, we didn't expect to be here but once we're here, we expected to win."
"It's an incredible disappointment for us. We're not gonna jump up and down and say: 'Yehey, we did our thing and everybody was proud of us.' Hopefully, that doesn't get into our mindset. We need to keep pushing and move forward, getting better," he added.
"It's an incredible disappointment for us. We're not gonna jump up and down and say: 'Yehey, we did our thing and everybody was proud of us.' Hopefully, that doesn't get into our mindset. We need to keep pushing and move forward, getting better," he added.
Cone and his troops will return to action in November for the next window of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers in their home court.
Cone and his troops will return to action in November for the next window of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers in their home court.
They will be facing New Zealand on the 21st and Hong Kong on the 24th, and both games are set to be played at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
They will be facing New Zealand on the 21st and Hong Kong on the 24th, and both games are set to be played at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
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Gilas Pilipinas
2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament
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