FIBA OQT: Tim Cone explains why Gilas couldn’t bring in RR Pogoy, others to fill Scottie Thompson void

With Scottie Thompson begging off due to a nagging back injury, Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone tried to bring in RR Pogoy to fill the void.

Pogoy already trained with the national team in the Inspire Academy bubble for three days.

Cone and Gilas, though, will go to the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Latvia without the TNT star.

“It was a visa problem. We couldn't get a visa in time for him,” the seasoned tactician told reporters after the 74-64 win over Taiwan Mustangs in a send-off friendly match on Monday, June 24.

[RELATED STORY: Dwight Ramos leads Gilas Pilipinas in win vs. Taiwan Mustangs ahead of FIBA OQT]

The search for the Thompson replacement continued. Cone said they even talked to a lot of players which he refused to name.

“We talked to other players. But we couldn't get anybody we wanted. I don't want to go through the list of guys we talked to, but it was a long list,” he said. 

In the end, their efforts went for naught. 

“For some reason or another, it didn't work out—whether it was a visa issue, or a family issue or whatever,” he added.

And that versatility would be required for this iteration of Gilas Pilipinas--already without Jamie Malonzo and AJ Edu. Chris Newsome earlier shared how their offense would be positionless in this case.

[ALSO READ: Gilas: Versatility expected to be key, with Scottie Thompson and AJ Edu ruled out of FIBA OQT]

The national team is now in Turkey for a friendly match against the host country in time for the July 2-7 spectacle. They will take on the world no. 15 before testing the mettle of Poland ahead of the OQT. 

“I hope to see improvement, I hope to see us get better on both sides of the ball,” said Cone of the friendlies before squaring off against Latvia and Georgia in the OQT.

[ALSO READ: Tim Cone shares how they brought in FEU's Sean Chambers as Gilas Pilipinas assistant coach]

(With reports from Gillian Trinidad, One Sports Digital)