Gilas HOT TAKE: Coach Tim Cone is still the RIGHT HEAD COACH for our national team?

 

Let's just address the lingering, toxic elephant in the room right away: Is Tim Cone still the right head coach for Gilas Pilipinas?

Yes. Emphatically, unequivocally, yes.

If you spend enough time in the dark corners of Philippine basketball social media, you know the prevailing narrative peddled by his fiercest critics. The theory goes that Cone's recent PBA championships with Barangay Ginebra—and his early international success—were simply the byproduct of riding Justin Brownlee's superhero cape. The detractors claimed that without the ultimate naturalized safety net bailing out stagnant half-court possessions, Cone's system would be completely exposed against high-level international competition.

This August FIBA window just took a sledgehammer to that narrative.

Winning Without the Cheat Code

Gilas Pilipinas just pulled off a monumental sweep, grinding out an 82-81 overtime escape against Jordan and suffocating Iran 68-56. They did this entirely without Brownlee. They did this with an all-Filipino roster, overcoming multiple slow starts to beat two of the most physically imposing, battle-tested programs in the Asian zone.

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What Cone orchestrated over these two games wasn't just a survival act; it was a tactical masterclass in defensive scaling. Without Brownlee’s elite perimeter shot creation, Cone constructed a gritty defensive shell anchored by the towering duo of Kai Sotto and AJ Edu. That frontcourt wall completely disrupted Iran's offensive flow, limiting the Middle East powerhouse to a miserable 56 points—their lowest scoring output of the current FIBA qualification tournament.

The Ultimate Big-Game Coach

Cone absorbs an irrational amount of bashing and excess hate from a fanbase that often struggles to separate PBA club rivalries from national duty. Yet, he continues to prove why he is the ultimate big-game architect who deserves far more respect.

Look at how the roster responded when things got chaotic. When Gilas faced a massive 18-7 first-quarter deficit against Iran, Cone didn't panic. He relied on his system, and the players executed:

• Kai Sotto returned to completely own the paint, delivering a game-saving block against Jordan and a massive 13-point, 16-rebound double-double against Iran.

• Juan Gomez de Liaño and a flu-stricken Dwight Ramos sparked the offense, posting 16 points apiece against a world-class Iranian defense.

• Kevin Quiambao drilled a clutch game-winning three against Jordan, while 'magic bunot' CJay Perez consistently generated crucial rim pressure.

After the Iran game, Sotto reportedly walked up to Cone and asked if he was the happiest guy in the world. Cone confirmed that he was, noting it was only the Philippines' third victory over Iran in their last 13 matchups, making the all-Filipino sweep incredibly sweet.

Cone managed to squeeze every ounce of character out of this roster, providing a fittingly heroic send-off for June Mar Fajardo in his final international games. The fans might still throw shade online, but Cone just proved once again that when the lights are brightest and the roster is depleted, he is exactly the basketball mind you want holding the clipboard.

Related Article: GILAS COMPLETES 2-0 FIBA AUGUST WINDOW!

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