Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone, also the coach of Gilas Pilipinas, during a PBA Philippine CUp game. –PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines—Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone isn’t worried about where the Philippines’ group for the 2027 Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
In fact, he’s not giving it much thought at all.
“Everybody’s making a big deal out of the draw but I just don’t make a big deal about it,” said Cone, fresh off of steering Ginebra to a win over Phoenix in the PBA Philippine Cup at Philsports Arena on Friday.
READ: Gilas Pilipinas draws tough group in 2027 Fiba World Cup qualifiers
“I mean, we had no control over it. If we had lost or won a game here or there which affected the draw then maybe we’d be talking about it or have some regrets but the bottom line is, we don’t have any control over that.”
On Tuesday night, Gilas was drawn into Group A alongside Guam and two familiar teams in New Zealand, and world No. 7 Australia
Cone said he isn’t worried about winning or losing against specific countries in the group stage–it’s all about punching a ticket to the World Cup.
READ: Tim Cone says Gilas will be ready for Fiba Asia Cup
“We’ll do what we have to do to make it. The bottom line is, we have to finish in the Top 7,” Cone said.
“That’s the job. It’s not necessarily about beating Australia, New Zealand or Guam, it’s about getting in and qualifying. However way it takes us to do that, we’ll fight really hard to do that.”
Before Cone and Gilas could even worry about the World Cup Qualifiers that start in November, they first have to handle business this August when they begin their campaign for the Asia Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
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