Tim Cone has come under scrutiny just a few days after assuming the role of interim head coach for Gilas Pilipinas.
During his introductory press conference last Thursday, held at the PBA office in Pasig, Cone alleged that Justine Baltazar had “never been available” since the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
“Balti, we have tried to get Balti forever,” said Cone. “He is never available. We tried to get him for the World Cup team. We tried really, really hard to get him for the World Cup.
“He was one of our guys who we really desired but he’s just not available… He has shown us zero interest.”
In a report by Spin.ph’s Snow Badua that came out a day later, Baltazar and his adviser, Pampanga Gov. Dennis Pineda, cried foul over Cone’s words, stating that it amounted to a character assassination of the young Kapampangan big man.
Baltazar’s last appearance with Gilas was when Tab Baldwin was still at the helm.
On Saturday, the most decorated head coach in PBA history explained why he responded in that manner to a question posed to him.
“That is just something that was thrown at me at a press conference. Funny that you are in a press conference for two hours, and they pick on one little thing,” he quipped during Saturday’s episode of Radyo5’s Power and Play with Kom Noli Eala.
“First of all, I didn’t say that I tried to; I said that we tried to get him. I was never involved in the process of trying to get him; I’ve never been in the process of recruiting guys,” he continued.
“I was told that when I was with the national team, we made multiple efforts to get him, and we were never able to. The reasons were, I do not know. Whether he was busy in Korea, busy here, or a miscommunication, I don’t know anything about that issue.”
Cone revealed that even if the 6-foot-9 sweet-shooting big man were available, he would not have invited him to the Gilas team bound for the 19th Asian Games because he was not familiar with his game.
The last time Cone had a chance to interact with Baltazar was during De La Salle University’s bubble preparation for UAAP Season 84.
“Well, first of all, I wouldn’t mind, but I don’t know him. The last time I saw him play was when he was at La Salle a few years ago during the pandemic. We will go for guys who are familiar to us at this point,” said Cone.
“If we had a pool and we could take a look at him, that would be fine. If we had time, yes, we would invite him.”
With the continental meet just a few weeks away, Cone wants to move on from the issue.
“But someone asked me about him, and I said he hasn’t been available. Again, he may be absolutely right, but I don’t know,” said Cone, as Baltazar and his camp are still deeply hurt by the criticism they have received on social media.
“For me, it’s a non-issue, and we have to move on.”
