So, are we going to hate on Tim Cone now?
Maybe, it's a time for everyone to say Philippine basketball sucks and we should all go outside to kick and punch our nearest and dearest friend because we excel in combat sports OR go to neighboring billiard halls to perfect our tutok shots?
Hold your horses...
As I have mentioned, being a Gilas Pilipinas head coach is a death trap for a coach and Tim Cone despite his PBA success is no stranger to this predicament. Jordan is pretty much the team they played in the 2023 FIBA World Cup so their chemistry is still in their system.
And except for that godawful finishing kick, and our over-chumminess to Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, there were flashes of brilliance like that insane third-quarter run.
Again, there is no significant change between the Chot Reyes plays and the Tim Cone plays because you know that Cone had a hand with how Reyes used Jordan Clarkson. Again, take out Clarkson and then take out June Mar Fajardo, Kai Sotto, and AJ Edu and insert Justin Brownlee, Japeth Aguilar, and either Greg Slaughter, Christian Standhardinger, and even Prince Caperal for that matter, and it's the Barangay Ginebra version of Cone's tried and tested offense. While there's just a bit of a triangle in his system because of the constant passing, it would always default with the import getting the say with either a jumper or a drive.
The only thing we should be thankful about this is that Brownlee trusts his teammates. I know at times this is a bad thing but his combination of talent and being a good teammate brought him to the level he is at today. JB is rightfully in the Mount Rushmore of PBA imports alongside Bobby Parks, Norman Black, and Sean Chambers and we'll probably see more of him until his body permits him to do what he does best.
As for Gilas Pilipinas, this is their feel-good stage now. Yes, this is basically not a feel-good game per se and in some ways, Cone is most likely a transitional mentor but at least this could be the start of the Gilas Pilipinas fans as the team's most staunch ally in both inside and outside the arena and not some "fan" like how the New York Knicks fans trash their players whenever they see fit to do so.