Nanindigan si Tim Cone na pansamantala lang siyang magko-coach sa Gilas Pilipinas.
Nangangahulugan ito na magko-coach lang para sa koponan para lamang sa Hangzhou Asian Games na magsisimula sa Setyembre 23.
“I do not want to go beyond that (the Asian Games),” aniya sa panayam ng Noli Eala sa Power and Play. “I’m just hopefully just helping out the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) and the country at this point.”
Nahirapan ang SBP na maghanap ng magko-coach sa Gilas matapos magbitiw ang dating coach na si Chot Reyes kasunod ng apat na sunud-sunod na pagkatalo ng PH Team sa 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Si Cone, ang deputy coach ni Reyes, ay nakumbinsi na punan ang bakanteng posisyon matapos sunduin ng kanyang amo na si San Miguel Corp. CEO Ramon S. Ang.
“That’s my goal, just do the Asian games and let them decide (for the future Gilas coach),” saad pa niya.
“It was basically very similar when I did the SEA Games in 2019, I was just holding the position, allowing them to figure out what to do in the future.”
Tinuruan ni Cone ang 2019 Gilas squad, na halos binubuo ng mga manlalaro ng Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) hanggang sa gold-medal finish na tinalo ang Thailand sa finals.
“I’m in that same situation now in the 2023,” aniya. “Hopefully if we could do half as well as the Southeast Asian Games, I’d be happy the way we perform here in the Asian Games.”