GILAS Pilipinas is aching to see action in the FIBA Asia Cup, a little less than two months from now in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
There’s just one nagging concern—the escalating tension between Saudi’s neighbors and Middle East powers Iran and Israel.
“The big question right now is, will we continue to play in Jeddah with all the things that are going on in the Middle East?” Cone posed on the Power and Play program hosted by former PBA Commissioner Noli Eala over the weekend. “Whether they change the venue, we’re still monitoring with FIBA as we speak.
“We’re wondering if this will all push through, or if the venues will change,” he added.
The tourney, known formerly as the ABC Championship and FIBA Asia Championship, is set for Aug. 5 to 17.
The United States has joined Israel in waging war with Iran as the world grapples with uncertainties due to the conflict.
The Philippine five is bracketed in Group D along with New Zealand, Chinese Taipei, and Iraq.
Cone is hoping his wards can hit the ground running next Monday, June 30.
“Gilas is coming up quickly, so we spent time at the end of the eliminations to go through and try to get something done for Gilas in terms of practice schedule,” Cone said. “We’re also trying to get some Monday practices before we come together. We will start sometime during the finals.”
With his Ginebra side battling San Miguel Beer in the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals that come off the wraps on Wednesday, Cone said assistant coaches Richard Del Rosario and Sean Chambers will take charge of the practices—if and when the Kings reach the Big Dance.
“If I am not in the finals, then I will coach the practices. But if I am in the finals, we’ll get Richard and Sean Chambers to handle the practices,” he said.
“We’re trying to get 18 practices together, including two-a-day practices, and a short camp before we leave.”
For now, everything’s fluid for the Filipino cagers but that does not mean they are not up to the big challenge of the prestigious Asia Cup.
