Tim Cone (second from left) offers out tips that could (from left) Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, Calvin Abueva and Terrence Romeo whereas the ladies’s staff trains within the background. —MARLO CUETO.
The Philippines shall be crossing paths with New Zealand, Chinese language Taipei, and Hong Kong within the early phases of its redemption bid within the Fiba (Worldwide Basketball Federation) Asia Cup.
The three nations have been recognized as Gilas Pilipinas’ early assignments for the Asia Cup Qualifiers following a draw ceremony in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday that featured former skipper Gabe Norwood and Iran’s newly retired ace Hamed Haddadi.
The 4 squads are set to play one another twice over the course of three home windows from February 2024, November 2024, after which February 2025 utilizing a home-and-away format.
The best two groups by the tip of group play shall be awarded outright passage into the primary match set someday in 2025.
World No. 21 New Zealand, which climbed six notches within the newest Fiba ladder, is shaping up as essentially the most harmful opponent for the Nationals, who will attempt to make up for a disappointing marketing campaign in July of final 12 months.
Interim foundation
Then coached by Chot Reyes, that Gilas staff that featured a mixture of PBA gamers, Japan, and South Korean imports, and amateurs missed the quarterfinals for the primary time in 15 years.
Gilas’ street to redemption might have turn into clearer, however this system stays teetering on the sting with nationwide coach Tim Cone solely calling the photographs on an interim foundation.
The Barangay Ginebra mentor, who can also be the winningest coach within the Philippine Basketball Affiliation, made it clear that he’s a mere stop-gap measure for this system.
Cone is at the moment neck-deep in priming a squad for the Asian Video games that will get going this weekend in Hangzhou, China, and is even struggling to place collectively a roster attributable to a posh miscommunication with the native organizing committee.
The Fiba Asia Cup serves as a qualification pathway to the Basketball World Cup. The upcoming version of the continental match has turn into essential because the Philippines will now haven’t any internet hosting energy to faucet into in an effort to qualify for the worldwide showcase.
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