By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Gilas Pilipinas men’s national basketball team inaugurated the Tim Cone era with a resounding 94-64 win over Hong Kong during the opening game of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers on February 22, 2024, at Tsuen Wan Stadium.
Taking the helm as head coach for the first time on the FIBA world stage, after succeeding longtime mentor Chot Reyes, Cone seamlessly continued his success from when he led Gilas to gold at the 2023 Asian Games.
After a four-month break from international competition, Gilas set a triumphant tone for their FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers campaign, showcasing impressive teamwork against Hong Kong with 33 assists—one of their best passing performances in five years.
The game’s start was not as dominant as expected from the more seasoned Gilas squad, with a determined Hong Kong team keeping the contest tight. Although Gilas maintained the lead throughout, Hong Kong’s spirited offense closed the gap to just four points at halftime, 41-37.
However, Gilas unleashed its most dominant quarter in the third, outscoring Hong Kong 30-9 and extending the lead to as much as 31 points. Overwhelmed by Gilas’s third-quarter surge, Hong Kong could not regain footing and conceded with five minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Justin Brownlee, fresh from a three-month doping suspension, returned with a bang, contributing an efficient 16 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, and three steals. Supporting him was the reigning UAAP Men’s basketball MVP Kevin Quiambao, who added 15 points on 6/9 shooting.
Kai Sotto also made a significant impact in the paint, registering a double-double with 13 points and 15 rebounds.
Gilas will now capitalize on a two-day break before returning to the Philippines for their second FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers game against Chinese Taipei on February 25, 2024, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
