Tim Cone sticks to original Gilas plan despite losses

Despite growing calls to expand Gilas Pilipinas' player pool after recent losses, head coach Tim Cone is maintaining his original plan.

Cone emphasized during a press conference that the team will stick to its initial program and learn from their failures, noting that he isn't inclined to add or subtract players unless someone leaves voluntarily.

The veteran coach acknowledged fan sentiment but insisted on following through with their initial plan without making changes at this stage.

Calls for expansion intensified after Gilas' losses against Chinese Taipei, New Zealand, Lebanon, and Egypt, as well as Kai Sotto's injury.

Cone explained the complexities of altering the team roster, citing financial constraints, travel logistics, and maintaining team chemistry.

After a string of successes in 2024, including an upset win over world No. 6 Latvia and a sweep of the first two windows of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, Gilas stumbled recently with losses to Lebanon, Egypt, Chinese Taipei, and New Zealand.

The coach admitted their mistake in subjecting players to three games in three days in Qatar before traveling to Taiwan and Auckland, highlighting the difficulty of adjusting without Kai Sotto due to injury.