Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone cherished having more time this time around in terms of preparation as they head into the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup.

Unlike during the qualifiers throughout 2024 and 2025, the nationals — while still short-staffed — had significantly more days to practice and go over their schemes that are to be used against Chinese Taipei, New Zealand and Iraq.

“We were able to get a couple of weeks,” said Cone, who had at his disposal the likes of Justin Brownlee, Scottie Thompson, Jamie Malonzo, Japeth Aguilar, Troy Rosario, RJ Abarrientos, Dwight Ramos, Carl Tamayo, and AJ Edu.

“We weren’t complete, that made it difficult, but we had a complete core with Justin and AJ. It was really important to have AJ here,” he added.

“That, being able to happen for two weeks, is great.”

Cone said that in comparison to the last window of the qualifiers, they only had four practices, with them even using their tune-up games to review their system more.

The lack of prep time showed in their performances: after sweeping New Zealand, Chinese Taipei, and Hong Kong in 2024, Gilas lost to New Zealand and Chinese Taipei in early 2025.

“Getting this practice time is crucial,” said Cone, whose team will again face the Tall Blacks and Taiwan in the Asia Cup proper.

However, Cone wants to have more time now that they will have June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, and Calvin Oftana, who came from their PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals series.

“But just like I said, we still need to have practices with June Mar,” he said. (ABS-CBN News)