Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone gives a quick update on their preparations for the FIBA Asia Cup.
Health and fitness issues will be another layer of concern for Gilas Pilipinas amid their preparations for the FIBA Asia Cup starting this August 5, according to head coach Tim Cone.
In a media interview on Thursday, July 10, the Gilas tactician pointed out that a number of his players are fresh off a rigorous PBA Philippine Cup season, starting with Ginebra San Miguel’s Scottie Thompson, RJ Abarrientos, Jamie Malonzo, and Japeth Aguilar.
The San Miguel Beermen, which includes CJ Perez and June Mar Fajardo, are slated to play in the best-of-seven Philippine Cup finals against Calvin Oftana and the TNT Tropang 5G.
“I think the biggest issue we have right now is we got a lot of players who are just finishing a really, really long season. And for our [Ginebra], it’s a seven-game series, so they’re really worn out,” Cone said during the partnership launch between adidas and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas at the Monarch Manila in Makati.
“And then they have some concerns. Jamie definitely, Scottie definitely. Even RJ was dinged up a little bit, and Japeth. So that’s a concern because we have those guys that are really worn out and tired,” Cone added of his Ginebra stars, who are coming off a seven-game series against San Miguel in the Philippine Cup semis.
Cone also pointed out Fajardo’s calf and hamstring concerns, which could be aggravated as he plays in San Miguel and TNT’s Philippine Cup finals bout.
“We were concerned on our side that June Mar was not 100 percent, but then he turned around and played 42 minutes in Game 7 [against Ginebra], so [what an] amazing, amazing guy that he is,” Cone said, referring to Fajardo’s monster 21-point and 19-rebound double-double against the Gin Kings.
“But yeah, those are concerning, especially that we were hoping [Ginebra] would beat San Miguel so we could get June Mar to be rested. But that’s not going to happen now, so he’s going to have to figure out a way to play this.”
Apart from the PBA contingent, Cone’s Asia Cup core also includes Japan B.League mainstays AJ Edu and Dwight Ramos, who need to get back into game shape after taking an offseason break.
Given everything, it’s going to be a huge balancing act between rest and rigorous training for Gilas Pilipinas ahead of the Asia Cup.
“So we have to push those guys and yet rest the other guys, and then later on add June Mar, CJ, and Calvin to the team really without practice, so there’s a lot of dynamics going on trying to get this team together, and that’s what we’ll try to do.”
On KQ and Justin Brownlee
Cone also gave some updates on Kevin Quiambao and Justin Brownlee, two key players who are expected to join Gilas later in their Asia Cup preparations.
Quiambao, Cone said, is set for a workout before five NBA teams in the United States, and the results of that said workout will determine the star forward’s availability for Gilas.
“If he’s able to draw some interest, he might end up being in the [NBA] Summer League a little bit longer. If not, he’ll come back earlier, but [July 16] I think is his date really to come back, I think that’s what I understand,” Cone said.
Brownlee, meanwhile, will return from a two-month layoff after getting surgery on the right thumb injury he suffered during the PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals last March.
“It’s just a matter of him getting his game legs because he hasn’t played in two months, he was out and had to rest his hand for like five weeks. He wasn’t allowed to really do anything with his hand, and so he wasn’t able to really handle the basketball for a long time,” Cone said of Brownlee’s status.
Cone is expecting a “stronger” Brownlee for the Asia Cup, given that he has finally gotten some rest after balancing Gilas and Barangay Ginebra commitments over the past year.
“So it’s just a matter of him getting back in shape and getting into rhythm. But like I said, I think the break in the long run will help Justin more than hurt him…He was forced to take a break because he hadn’t taken a break in almost two years,” Cone said.
For now, Tim Cone and Gilas Pilipinas will be starting their daily practice sessions by next Monday, July 14, without several of their key stars.
The nationals are also set to play in a pair of tuneup games before the Asia Cup against the Macau Black Bears on July 28 at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, and the Jordanian national team on August 2 shortly after they touch down in Jeddah.
Banner images from FIBA.