Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone took full accountability for the team’s 95-87 defeat to Chinese Taipei — a loss that dealt an enormous early blow to their 2025 FIBA Asia Cup campaign.
Cone, essentially the most achieved coach in PBA historical past, didn’t mince phrases as he admitted to being “outcoached” by Chinese language Taipei tactician Gianluca Tucci, who as soon as once more bought the higher of Gilas following their 91-84 upset of the Philippines within the FIBA Asia qualifiers again in February.
“Clearly we didn’t play an excellent one. [I’m] dissatisfied with the best way we performed, we bought behind early within the recreation and simply performed on our heels the entire means. It’s like we’re in panic mode for 40 minutes,” Cone mentioned.
“They’re enjoying high-level basketball, extraordinarily well-coached. Clearly, they outcoached us tonight. A disappointing efficiency on my half and actually damage by the loss.”
Chinese language Taipei bought off to a sizzling begin within the recreation with sniper Ying-Chun Chen scoring 11 of his game-high 34 factors within the first quarter alone, which helped them construct a lead as large as 17 factors, 27-10.
However Gilas Pilipinas stood its floor with the likes of Dwight Ramos, Kevin Quiambao, and Justin Brownlee sparking a comeback.
Quiambao, who made essentially the most of his 16 minutes of enjoying time, opened the payoff interval with a private 5-0 run. He additionally knocked down a tricky three-pointer to deliver the Filipinos to inside six, 80-74, with 4:43 left.
Chen, nonetheless, dashed no matter hope Gilas had left, drilling one other triple and sinking two free throws to push Chinese language Taipei forward, 85-74.
Quiambao would nonetheless present some combat in him by firing a triple, however Chinese language Taipei large man Brandon Gilbeck transformed back-to-back baskets together with a game-sealing dunk to shut it out for the world no. 73 Chinese language Taipei.
Cone admitted that the win proved Chinese language Taipei has the instruments to contend for a podium end within the match.
“If Chinese language Taipei continues to play like they did, making photographs the best way that they have been making, [then] they might be one of many guys that will get a medal, indubitably,” he mentioned.
However his focus is not on the opposite crew proper now, stressing they need to regroup as one unit, particularly as they should go up towards a powerhouse New Zealand subsequent.
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Gilas will look to atone for the opening day loss on Thursday night time towards the Tall Blacks, who cruised to an early 1-0 card in Group D following a 100-78 win over Iraq.
“However we’ll see what we will do, we have now to see if we will bounce again from this and transfer ahead. That’s the one factor that we will do at this level.”
—JMB, GMA Built-in Information
