Quo vadis, golden Gilas?
HANGZHOU, China — And now, the big question: Where do we go from here?
Ask Gilas coach Tim Cone, who must be on cloud nine, on his way back home with the rest of the team, and he’d say it’s up to the SBP (Samahang Basketball ng Pillipinas).
“That’s really up to the SBP,” said the 66-year-old mentor and newly crowned champion in men’s basketball of the Asian Games.
“That’s the reason why I’m here, which is to give them (SBP) time to settle in and decide what they want to do moving forward. That’s really the thing right now — where the SBP is going from here,” he said.
Cone took this Asian Games mission with the job title of interim coach, taking over Chot Reyes, who decided to “step aside” after the team’s shaky, roller-coaster ride in last month’s FIBA World Cup.
Cone did the same in 2019 when he stepped in as replacement, as interim, for Yeng Guiao. He got the job done as well, steering the national team to the Southeast Asian Games crown at home.
And then the country winning its first Asian Games gold in 61 years — of all places here in China, winner of eight Asian Games crowns; the Philippines next with five.
“That was the job and I completed the job
“We’ll see where do we go from here,” added Cone, owner of 25 PBA titles, including two of only four Grand Slams.
He was asked whether or not he’d do it again with Gilas — if asked and if called. He was reminded that the next Asian Games, in Nagoya, Japan, is just three years away (this one being pushed back a year due to the pandemic).
“I’ll always gonna be ready to help in any way,” he said. “I can but right now, to be honest with you, I’m not thinking that far forward.”
But Cone had that look in his face when reminded of the 2026 Asian Games. By that time, though, he’d be pushing 70.
Then again, why not?
Back to winning the Asian Games title on his second try after taking the bronze in 1998, the basketball coach who once dreamed of being an astronaut said it was just a matter of time.
“Had to be somebody, sometime. We’re just too good of a basketball nation not to win this thing,” he said.
If the Philippines can win the gold four times in a row (1951, 1954, 1958 and 1962), then there’s no reason why it can’t be done — again.
“We won four straight Asian Games at that time and who knows this could be our streak, our stretch of winning more Asian Games along the way. We’ve always gotten close. For coach Jong (Uichico), then Chot. A lot of games that went down to the wire.
“It’s really nice to finally get over the hump. Our nation deserves that. I know I’m an American but it’s still our nation. I’m sorry that might not sound right but it’s our nation,” said Cone, who’s married to a Filipina.
"It's good to feel good about it," he added amid all the celebration going on within the Philippine side.
As he walked out of post-game press conference, The STAR whispered to Cone, “You did it coach.”
Four words came out of his mouth.
“We found a way.”
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