MAKARAANG ianunsiyo ang Philippine men’s basketball pool para sa 30th Southeast Asian Games, kumpiyansa si Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Commissioner Ramon Fernandez na magtatagumpay si newly-appointed national coach Tim Cone.
Naniniwala si Fernandez, miyembro ng silver-winning Asian Games team noong 1990 sa Beijing, na masisikwat ng Filipinas ang ika-18 over-all men’s SEA Games basketball title magmula noong 1977.
Ang men’s basketball competition ay gaganapin sa December 1-10 sa Mall of Asia Arena sa Pasay City.
“He (Cone) knows what it takes to win in the Southeast Asian Games. It can be done with an all-pro lineup and even with a mix collegiate stars,” wika ni Fernandez, isang four-time Philippine Basketball Association Most Valuable Player.
Binuo ni Cone kamakailan ang Gilas Pilipinas 15-man SEA Games pool na pinangungunahan ng anim na Barangay Ginebra San Miguel players — Japeth Aguilar, Greg Slaughter, Scottie Thompson, LA Tenorio, Art Dela Cruz at Stanley Pringle.
Ang iba pang players na nasa pool ay sina June Mar Fajardo, Marcio Lassiter, Chris Ross, Christian Standhardinger, Roger Pogoy, Troy Rosario, Jayson Castro, Vic Manuel at Matthew Wright.
“We don’t want to lose this one. This is our home court. This is not the best talent, but we are trying to be the best team that we can,” ani Cone, ang winningest Philippine Basketball Association coach na may 21 titulo, tampok ang grand slam crowns noong 1996 at 2013.
“We decided to go with a veteran group, again because generally veterans are easier to coach short-term. They pick up things faster than the young guys. This is all about speed and efficiency that we’re trying to do.”
Sa 2017 Southeast Asian Games sa Malaysia, ang Gilas Pilipinas ay binuo ng pinagsamang professional at amateur players upang kunin ang gold. CLYDE MARIANO
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