Tim Cone blames Gilas losses on Sotto's absence, Doha trip

Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone took full responsibility for his team's loss to Chinese Taipei and New Zealand in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, noting the impact of Kai Sotto's absence.

Cone acknowledged that their participation in the Doha Invitational Cup may have negatively affected their preparation for crucial matches against Chinese Taipei and New Zealand.

Despite securing a spot in the FIBA Asia Cup main event in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in August, Cone emphasized the need to improve before the tournament due to limited preparation time.

The Philippines struggled offensively during their trip in Doha and were outplayed by both Chinese Taipei and New Zealand despite Justin Brownlee's strong performances.

Dwight Ramos highlighted that these losses provide valuable learning experiences for the team as they prepare for the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup.

Game time against New Zealand is set for 10 am (Manila time) on Sunday, February 23.