Gilas coach Tim Cone sees Guam matchups 'crucial'
Published Nov 25, 2025 03:56 pm
At A Glance
- After also being drawn with Australia and New Zealand, Cone isn't only seeking a strong start to the World Cup qualifiers campaign but is also aiming the two crucial victories before they take on the powerhouses in the next two windows.
Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone eyes nothing but victories in their games against Guam. (File Photo)
Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone is seeing the game against Guam as a make or break point for the Nationals’ bid of reaching the Olympics through the 2027 FIBA World Cup in Qatar.
After also being drawn with Australia and New Zealand, Cone isn’t only seeking a strong start to the World Cup qualifiers campaign but is also aiming the two crucial victories before they take on the powerhouses in the next two windows.
“If we don't make the World Cup, we can't make the Olympics. If we don't win these two games, all of our goals are dashed. So that's how crucial these two games are,” stressed Cone.
The Nationals are facing Guam in a pair of home-and-away games, the first on Nov. 28 on the road and then on Dec. 1 at home at the Blue Eagles Gym.
Those two games are considered crucial to the bid of Gilas since the Nationals need to finish at least No.3 in their group to advance to the second round.
And if Gilas manages to reach the second round, its first round standing will be carried over in hopes of placing within the Top 7 to clinch a World Cup seat.
A loss to Guam, meanwhile, would put the Nationals on a tougher road to the second round since they will be facing up against New Zealand and Australia in the next two windows.
“If we can't get Guam and then we have to play New Zealand and Australia, we can't get to that third spot, even to advance to the second round. So these two games are, to me, the most important games we play in the whole qualifying that we play. ,” stressed Cone.
Cone, of course, vowed the team will do everything in its power to try to win against the higher-ranked team though admitted the road would be much easier if they get the win against Guam.
“We’ll see if we can steal a game here at home against New Zealand and Australia, and then we'll do what we can against Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Jordan. Those four teams, we'll see what we can do against those guys,” said the national team mentor.
“But these two wins that we have are going to be carried over all the way to the end, if we can get those two wins. And if not, then that loss is going to be carried over and we won't make it,” he added.