Tim Cone (second from left) offers out tips to (from left) Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, Calvin Abueva and Terrence Romeo whereas the ladies’s workforce trains within the background. —MARLO CUETO.
Simply days away from the Asian Video games, Tim Cone can strike off a number of issues from his fear checklist.
He already has a 12-man roster, and everybody—even the alternate who sits at No. 13—is worked up about representing the Philippines within the basketball competitors of the continental Olympics.
“I don’t have to fret about motivation; they’re motivated,” Cone stated on Thursday throughout an open exercise collectively held by the lads’s and girls’s squads at PhilSports Area.
Under the floor, there additionally appears to be no want for Cone to fret in regards to the coal-hot teaching spot vacated by Chot Reyes.
In a coaching day open to the general public, followers simply gravitated to the Barangay Ginebra coach, with a number of taking selfies with the Philippine Basketball Affiliation’s all-time—by a mile—chief in championships amongst tacticians.
“I feel, nothing in opposition to coach Reyes, but it surely’s … greatest for coach Tim Cone to show that what he can do is totally different in comparison with coach Chot,” stated Angelo Fabie, a spectator who joined one of many fan interplay video games held through the occasion.
Polarized
Fan opinion was extraordinarily polarized throughout Reyes’ stint as nationwide coach, with the vitriol reaching a boiling level through the World Cup. Reyes has since stepped down as nationwide coach and has defined the behind-the-scenes struggles that bogged the nationwide workforce’s preparations for the World Cup.
To date, followers have been usually optimistic of Cone, with out setting the identical expectations hoisted on the shoulders of the World Cup squad.
“[P]rofessionally, he’s already confirmed lots,” fan John Francis Capoon stated.
“I feel there’s nonetheless a continuity, contemplating the truth that Tim Cone was an assistant coach of Chot and everyone knows that Tim Cone is the winningest coach in Philippine basketball in order that gained’t be an issue,” Fabio Ontong Jr. stated.
Cone hasn’t stated a lot in regards to the workforce’s prospects, however he believes the nationwide squad is in the correct way of thinking to begin the nation’s medal bid.
“We’re all accessible. All people desires to be right here. That’s the most important and strongest a part of the workforce, they’re excited to be within the nationwide workforce,” Cone stated.
“They’re excited in regards to the prospect of taking part in China, Korea, Bahrain and Jordan.”
Holdovers
Fiba World Cup holdovers June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar and Roger Pogoy, who was in road garments, had been within the open apply, together with Calvin Abueva and Terrence Romeo, Jason Perkins, Calvin Oftana, Chris Newsome and Justin Brownlee.
Skipping the occasion had been Scottie Thompson, Mo Tautuaa, Ange Kouame and Stanley Pringle, who continues working towards with the squad regardless of his position as an alternate.
“Stanley is our thirteenth [player] in case one thing occurs. He’s sacrificed himself coming right here and dealing with us, although he doesn’t have a spot within the workforce at this level,” stated Cone.
The Asian Video games will start on Sept. 23, with the lads’s squad kicking off their bid for a medal end in opposition to Bahrain on the twenty sixth.
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