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Cone gets offer to coach Gilas in SEA Games, will decide Monday

Published September 21, 2019, 5:48 PM By Waylon Galvez

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel coach Tim Cone will decide Monday whether or not to accept the job as mentor of Gilas Pilipinas for the 30th Southeast Asian Games which the country will host from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11.

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel coach Tim Cone last handled the national team in the 1998 Asian Games.

Cone said Saturday that he has been in discussion with Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Al Panlilio about the position vacated by Yeng Guiao more than a week ago.

“I’ve been in conversation with SBP President Al Panlilio regarding the SEA Games head coaching position for basketball, I know that Mr. Panlilio and my boss, Alfrancis Chua, have also had discussions regarding the position,” said Cone.

Cone said he wants to consult his family first and concentrate on Ginebra’s PBA Governors’ Cup game against Alaska on Sunday before making a decision.

“My total focus is on our Ginebra game versus Alaska to open the Governors’ Cup (campaign),” said Cone.

“After talking to my family, Mr. Panlilio and I will continue our conversation regarding the appointment, at which time we will come to a resolution,” he added.

Calling the shots for the national team isn’t new to Cone, who steered the country to a bronze medal finish in the 1998 Asian Games in Thailand.

Cone also guided the Philippine squad dubbed as the Centennial Team to victory in the 1998 William Jones Cup in Taiwan.

SBP chairman emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan recently mentioned Cone as a candidate for the vacant position.

Guiao stepped down as coach of Gilas following a disastrous campaign in last week’s FIBA World Cup in China, where the national team went winless in five games.

The country will host the SEA Games late this year, with basketball one of the sports expected to deliver the gold medal.

The country has dominated the sport of basketball in the region, having won the title since the 1991 edition held in Manila.

Panlilio said the lineup for the SEA Games will be a mixture of players from the PBA and the collegiate ranks.

Tags: Al Panlilio , Gilas Pilipinas , Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas , Southeast Asian Games , Tim Cone