Cone to keep Gilas player pool for World Cup qualifiers

Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone intends to retain the current player pool for the upcoming FIBA World Cup qualifiers in November, emphasizing continuity and player development.

Cone is adamant in sticking with the current Gilas core, composed of players who know his system and have built chemistry, rather than force a revamp with the qualifiers just months away.

The Philippine team aims to build on their quarterfinal exit in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Gilas will face No. 7-ranked Australia, New Zealand, and Guam in their bid for a fourth straight World Cup participation.

Cone acknowledged that the team had a short training for the Asia Cup, with some players joining just days before the competition due to PBA Philippine Cup finals commitments.

Main center June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez of San Miguel Beer, along with Calvin Oftana of TNT, joined the build-up late.

The Nationals brought only their 12-man roster to the Middle East, leaving behind reserve forward Troy Rosario and point guard RJ Abarrientos.