Having a united and solid Gilas Pilipinas program has been one of the main priorities for former men’s head coach Chot Reyes and current interim mentor Tim Cone.
And that mission will not change in the new cycle of Gilas.
Cone announced on X that the men’s team will train alongside the women’s squad coached by Patrick Aquino on Thursday afternoon at the Philsports Arena.
The session will be open to the public.
Gilas Men’s Team will have a joint practice with Gilas Women’s Team at Philsports on Thursday, Sept 14. We will share the court and have interactions between both teams. The public is free to come and observe. The gates will open at 4 pm. NO tickets necessary!
— Tim Cone (@manilacone) September 12, 2023
Cone and Reyes have always made sure to share Gilas Men’s success with the women’s team.
During the 30th Southeast Asian Games in Manila, Gilas Women won their program’s first-ever gold through a three-game sweep.
Cone, who was the head coach of the men’s team, made sure to share the spotlight with them, requesting a group photo with the men’s team after their triumph later in the evening.
Four years later, Reyes also brought the women’s team alongside the men’s side during their training.
The organizers of the Cambodia Games only provided an open court for the visitors to train on.
When team manager Butch Antonio found a comfortable training facility, Reyes also rented the place for Aquino’s team.
Gilas Men are grouped with Jordan, Thailand, and Bahrain in the continental meet, while the women’s team is slotted with Japan, Kazakhstan, and Hong Kong.