Cone (right) with assistant coach Sean Chambers. Inspire Sports Academy photo
Gilas plays Turkey
GILAS Pilipinas gets another chance to test its mettle when it takes on world No. 24 Turkey in the first of two tune-up games as part of its preparations for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Riga, Latvia next month.
The Filipinos, who arrived in Istanbul early Wednesday, will play Turkey at 1 a.m. Friday at the Turkish Airlines Arena.
Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone said he is not sure if Turkey will field its NBA players in the friendly game since they are not preparing for the OQT
“Turkey is No. 24, but they’re much better if their NBA guys show up. But I don’t know if they are going to play because they’re not preparing for the OQT (in Valencia, Spain). Turkey is just preparing for the Euro qualifiers,” said Cone in an interview posted in the official PBA website.
Cone, however, said Turkey remains a formidable opponent with a pair of 7-footers in Ercan Osmani and Sertac Sanli.
After Turkey, Gilas will face world No. 15 Poland on June 30.
Like the Filipinos, the Polish are competing in the Valencia, Spain OQT where they are bracketed in Group B with Finland and Bahamas.
Before leaving for Istanbul, Gilas Pilipinas defeated Taiwan Mustangs, 74-64, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig
Cone admitted the 11-man Gilas team wasn’t exactly in the groove yet based on the outcome of its game against the Taiwanese.
