Even with Gilas Pilipinas already securing a spot in the next round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers, head coach Tim Cone isn’t ready to hit the brakes.
The veteran tactician and his squad are already looking ahead to the final window in July, determined to fine-tune their game before the next challenge.
The Philippines endured contrasting defeats during this week’s double homestand: a narrow 66–69 loss to New Zealand on Thursday, followed by a heavy 66–93 setback against Australia on Sunday. Still, Cone expects his team to return with renewed energy and sharper focus.
“I think we’re gonna come back with renewed fire. It’s back to the drawing board for me a little, but we’re gonna have to simplify things a little more,” Cone said.
Defense has been a cornerstone of Gilas’ strategy, something Cone emphasized even in their matchup against the Tall Blacks. The plan paid off initially, with the Filipinos showcasing disciplined defense that made Cone proud.
“For a game and a half, I couldn’t have been more proud of their defense,” he said.
“The moment you don’t defend, the game can get away from you in a hurry — and that’s exactly what happened to us in that second half.”
Looking ahead, Cone is preparing his squad for the challenges of playing away games later this year. Traveling to Australia and New Zealand in winter will require adjustments, from coping with colder gyms to adapting to unfamiliar conditions.
“We’re gonna have to go down there in the wintertime. It’s gonna be a different feel for us. That’s one of the adjustments we’re gonna have to make in July,” he noted.
Despite the recent setbacks, Cone reminded that qualification is already secure, thanks to the Tall Blacks’ earlier victory over Guam.
“We also have to keep thinking of the bigger picture,” Cone said.
“We’re not gonna lose our berth losing to Australia and New Zealand.”
The sting of these losses, however, is amplified by the fact that they occurred at home — a point echoed by Dwight Ramos during the postgame press conference.
“These are gonna be the best two teams we play in the World Cup qualifiers. And Australia is obviously the best, so the biggest disappointment here is that this happened to us here at home,” Ramos said.
With home-court advantage off the table, the focus shifts to the future, particularly the crucial final round against Middle Eastern teams that will determine entry into the next stage of the World Cup.
“The winning that we’re really gonna have to do is when we play the Middle Eastern teams. That’s gonna be at the end of the year. Those are the ones that are really gonna get us into qualifying,” Cone explained.
Even after disappointing results on home soil, Cone remained grateful for the opportunity to lead the national team and expressed excitement for the upcoming third window.
“It is so honorable to play and be with this team. Just having that opportunity is fantastic,” said Cone.
“So when we come back together in July, it’s always gonna be a special thing.”
#WATCH: THESE TWO TEAMS ARE THE BEST TEAMS 🇵🇭
Tim Cone gives his thoughts on facing the Tall Blacks and the Boomers anew in #FIBAWC Window 3, but this time, on the road 🏀#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/9wvB2xc22f
📹 @luis_licas /Tiebreaker Times#LabanPilipinas pic.twitter.com/3wLVusqdi0
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) March 1, 2026
