MANILA – Despite a loss to the South Korean national team in a friendly and the uncertainty of naturalized player Justin Brownlee making it to Japan, coach Tim Cone is ready for the 20th Asian Games even with an incomplete roster.
Cone is bracing himself for an 11-man lineup in the country’s bid to retain the basketball gold in the quadrennial showcase. He has no one in mind to fill up the 12th and final spot.
On Friday night, Gilas lost to a hot-shooting Korean national team, 81-55, at Suwon KT Sonicboom Arena.
The Filipinos fell early, 4-13, and never recovered. They were held to just 22 points in the second half.
Lee Jung-Hyun led the Korean team with 27 points, three rebounds and five assists, while going 7-of-11 from three-point range.
They play again on Sunday before flying to Nagoya the following day, or three days before the Asiad basketball competition.
Cone admitted not hearing a word yet from the 38-year-old Brownlee, who is still in the United States recovering from the hamstring and knee injuries he suffered during the PBA Commissioner’s Cup playoffs and which eventually kept him out of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers’ fourth window.
“We haven’t had a confirmation from Justin whether he’s gonna be here or not. The door is still open for him,” Cone said during a virtual presser from Seoul.
“He’s still working on clearances from doctors in the States, so as soon as that’s all cleared up, we’ll have a clearer picture as well.”
Cone said he is keeping the 12th spot “open for Justin if he can make it.”
In case Brownlee doesn’t make it, Cone said Gilas Pilipinas remains ready to go for its title-retention bid.
“Yes, there is chance,” said Cone, recalling the FIBA Olympic qualifier in 2024 with just 11 players following the absence of guard Scottie Thompson.
“I think we will be fine. These guys are all willing to play extended minutes. I think 11 is a really good number from a coaching standpoint in terms of not feeling like you have to force some guys who should be out there longer to play less because you want other guys to play, other guys to get satisfied.”
Handled by Latvian Nicholas Majulus, the core of the Korean team bound for the Asiad also suited up for the just-concluded fourth window.
The Philippines and Korea are both outside the top three in the Asian qualifiers with similar 4-4 cards.
The Philippines is fifth in Group E and Korea fourth in Group F. The top three teams from each group and the best fourth-place team will qualify for the 2027 Qatar World Cup.
Justin Baltazar ended up with a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds for Gilas, while Adrian Nocum was the other Filipino in double figures with 10 points in his first stint with the national team.
Gilas just shot 33 percent from two-point range (18-of-55) and 19 percent from beyond the arc (5-of-27), where Baltazar went 2-of-3.
The 6-foot-9 Brandon Bates failed to score but grabbed nine rebounds.
The scores:
SOUTH KOREA 81 – Lee J.H 2757, Lee W.S. 10, Moon YH 8, Yeo JS 8, Daniel E. 7, Lee HJ 6, An YJ 3, Byeon JH 3, Jang JS 3.
PHILIPPINES 55 – Baltazar 15, Nocum 10, Ganuelas-Rosser 7, Arana 6, Trollano 5, Ahanmisi 5, Lucero 3, Bolick 2, Barefield 2, Abarrientos 0, Bates 0.
Quarters: 24-18; 45-33; 57-44; 81-55 (PBA Media/PNA)
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