TIM Cone — not Chot Reyes — will be the head coach of the Gilas Pilipinas in the coming 19th Asian Games scheduled Sept. 23-Oct. 8 in Hangzhou, China.

Cone, who previously announced he is also leaving the national team once Reyes’ resignation was accepted by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), was reportedly prevailed upon to stay and take over the Hangzhou-bound team for “the sake of national interest.”

The appointment of Cone was personally announced by SBP president Al Panlilio, at a press conference at the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) office in Libis, Quezon City.

Present during the announcement were PBA chairman and SBP vice president Ricky Vargas, San Miguel Corporation sports director Alfrancis Chua, PBA commissioner Willie Marcial and Cone himself.

Chua will serve as the team manager while Marcial is deputy manager.

Joining Cone in the coaching staff are Richard del Rosario, Ginebra guard LA Tenorio, long-time Gilas deputy Jong Uichico and Reyes’ son-coach, Josh Reyes.

Already the winningest coach in PBA history with 25 championships with Alaska Milk and Barangay Ginebra, the 65-year-old Cone is the most qualified coach to handle the job.

Aside from being the head coach of the PBA’s most popular team Ginebra, Cone is best remembered by local fans for piloting the all-PBA team, also known as Centennial Team, to a third-place finish in the 1998 Asian Games held in Bangkok, Thailand.

Cone also served as coach of the Philippine team which captured the gold medal in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games held in Manila.

The current Barangay Ginebra coach served as assistant to Reyes in the FIBA World Cup 2023, in which the Jordan Clarkson-led Gilas finished in 24th place with a 1-4 win-loss slate.

After the Filipinos’ lone victory against Asian rival China, Reyes announced his decision to “step aside from his national team duties.”

Half of the team from the World Cup, including Kai Sotto, Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, Kiefer Ravena and Rhenz Abando, will also not suit up for Gilas in Hangzhou due to earlier commitments in professional leagues in Japan and Korea. But Cone will not be wanting of top-caliber players for the Asian Games.

Former PBA Best Import awardee Justin Brownlee and naturalized player Ange Kouame will banner the team, according to SBP.

Joining them are 2023 FIBA World Cup members June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, Scottie Thompson, CJ Perez, RR Pogoy and Jamie Malonzo, as well as Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, all of whom were part of Gilas’ roster during the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia in May, where they reclaimed the gold medal.

Earlier, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said he is pushing hard in his appeal to the Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee for the changes in the composition of the team.