Romwel Anzures

Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone against New Zealand in the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers. Photo from FIBA.

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ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1783143287967IMG_1323.webp" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone against New Zealand in the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers. Photo from FIBA.MANILA — Gilas Pilipinas was far from home soil, but the Filipino fans in Auckland still showed up as the Philippines resumed its campaign in the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.</div>Unfortunately, it was the team that did not deliver, and Gilas head coach Tim Cone rued not repaying the Pinoy faithful at Spark Arena.&quot;[Their support] is an amazing thing. I don&#x27;t think any other national team has that following,&quot; said Cone after Gilas&#x27; 102-106 double-overtime loss to New Zealand on Friday. &quot;That makes it even tougher when we don&#x27;t deliver.&quot;<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/7/3/fiba-gilas-pilipinas-puts-up-gallant-stand-but-falls-to-new-zealand-in-2ot-1758">READ: Gilas Pilipinas puts up gallant stand, but falls to New Zealand in 2OT</a></div>The likes of <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/7/4/fiba-the-future-is-now-for-gilas-young-core-says-tim-cone-1336">Kevin Quiambao, Juan Gomez de Liaño, and Carl Tamayo</a> were fueled by the pro-Pinoy crowd, with the trio spearheading Gilas&#x27; charge as Justin Brownlee was limited to five points and committed three turnovers.But even with Gilas&#x27; young core making its presence felt, crucial fouls and errors eventually led to the squad&#x27;s demise, leaving Cone lamenting what could have been a statement win.&quot;Obviously, it&#x27;s a huge disappointment. Once you feel like it&#x27;s in your grasp, then you let it slip away, it makes it tough,&quot; he said. &quot;It would have been nice to come here and steal a game. It would have been special.&quot;Those included a costly foul by Dwight Ramos late in the first overtime, several missed free throws from the fourth quarter through the second overtime, as well as untimely turnovers by Brownlee and Gomez de Liaño.For Cone, there are no excuses, saying moral victories have no place at this stage of their campaign.&quot;They may take pride in how we played, but the bottom line is we gotta win games for them,&quot; he said. &quot;Because they are there, when we do fail, it&#x27;s a lot harder to take as a group. We really take it hard when we don&#x27;t play well in front of them.&quot;Cone now hopes Gilas has enough time to recover before returning to action on Monday against Australia at 6:30 p.m. in another road game.

Gilas Pilipinas was far from home soil, but the Filipino fans in Auckland still showed up as the Philippines resumed its campaign in the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

Gilas Pilipinas was far from home soil, but the Filipino fans in Auckland still showed up as the Philippines resumed its campaign in the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

FIBA: Cone rues 'huge disappointment' in not delivering for overseas Gilas crowd

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FIBA: Cone rues 'huge disappointment' in not delivering for overseas Gilas crowd

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 04, 2026 02:16 PM PHT

Read More:

Basketball

FIBA

2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers

Gilas Pilipinas

Tim Cone

FIBA Basketball

Justin Brownlee

Juan Gomez de Liaño

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