With Scottie Thompson out due to a recurring back injury, Gilas Pilipinas embarked on a journey to Europe with an 11-man lineup.
Despite being relatively shorthanded, this team is going all-out when the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Latvia unfurls on July 2.
[ALSO READ: FIBA OQT: Tim Cone explains why Gilas couldn’t bring in RR Pogoy, others to fill Scottie Thompson void]
Just ask coach Tim Cone.
“It's not that big of a deal that we're just 11-strong,” said Cone, whose team is grouped with the host country and Georgia.
While they were not satisfied with the 84-73 loss to Turkey in a friendly on Friday, June 28, Cone has full trust on his soldiers when the going gets tough in the July 2-7 competition.
[RELATED STORY: Gilas Pilipinas falls short against hot-shooting Turkey in pre-FIBA OQT tune-up]
Check out what the winningest coach in PBA history has to say about each one of them.
ALSO READ: FIBA OQT: Players to watch for Gilas Pilipinas in Riga]
Dwight Ramos
“We’re going to have Dwight to help us out on the backcourt. He played the wing for us when we had Scottie, but he’s moving to the backcourt,” Cone said of Ramos.
“He gives us great size. And you know, he’s still capable of scoring from that position.”
St. Dwight will take on the point guard role after Thompson begged off at the last minute.
And Ramos seems comfortable with the new role.
While he missed six of seven shots against Turkey for four points, Ramos still made his presence felt with eight rebounds and seven assists.
[ALSO READ: FIBA OQT: In absence of Scottie Thompson, Dwight Ramos to take on point guard role for Gilas]
Chris Newsome
"Chris is really our backcourt stopper. That commitment, he's he's going to be a committed defender. That's going to be his absolute priority,” he said of Newsome, who put the cuffs on Rondae Hollis-Jefferson in the Asian Games gold medal match against Jordan.
"He's not going to worry about scoring or passing. He's just going to lock into a guy that we need and he's got good size for the back court. And it just seemed it came to be a really good fit for what we do.”
While he can score in more ways than one, including the title-clinching fall-away jumper against San Miguel in Game 6 of the PBA Philippine Cup finale, Chris Newsome has always put premium on defense.
And that’s exactly what Cone wants him to do in the upcoming games in Latvia.
[RELATED STORY: Tim Cone explains PBA Finals MVP Chris Newsome's role for Gilas Pilipinas in FIBA OQT, Asia Cup Qualifiers]
Calvin Oftana
“I mean he is one of the best players in the PBA right now. I told him earlier. I saw him in one of the games. I told him that he's playing at a total MVP level.”
Calvin Oftana’s inclusion to the team is a no-brainer.
The 6-foot-6 winger can shoot the ball from long range and get to the basket in a variety of ways. There’s no doubt TNT star is one of the best players in the PBA right now.
CJ Perez
“I’m really pleasantly surprised with CJ. CJ's handling and seeing our offense really, really well.”
Everyone knows how well CJ Perez can score in bunches and lock down an opponent.
What surprised Cone was that he can run Gilas’ triangle offense really well. So that also helps ease the pain of losing Thompson for this OQT.
Kai Sotto
“He's only 21 years old. You know, he hasn't even he got built, you know, developed into his body yet. And so, you know, really the sky is the limit,” Cone said.
“And I think any experience he had, he played against big, strong guys in Australia. He plays against imports in Japan. So it's not a stretch for him to go out and play against the bigger European players."
"But I think in the in the competitive level that we're going to be at, the pressure is going to be on him to perform. Because he is going to be the main guy, one of the main guys, if not the main guy on our team. And that's going to to grow him, he's going to evolve and get better. And that's the whole point of doing this for over four years."
There’s no limit to Kai Sotto’s potential.
At 21, Sotto is only expected to get better and before we know it, he is already dominating Asia.
Like most fans, Cone is a believer.
Carl Tamayo
"Carl reminds me of a lot of actually reminds me a lot of Kerby Raymundo. Believe or not, he's got that same kind of skill level where there's really very little he can't do. He just needs to harness it all again. He's young. He needs to harness it and kind of throw it all in one direction."
Cone paid Carl Tamayo the ultimate compliment.
In a previous interview, the Gilas mentor likened the 6-foot-7 cager to PBA legend Kerby Raymundo.
Agree?
[ALSO READ: Carl Tamayo, Gilas eye improvement after friendlies in Europe]
Kevin Quiambao
“He's so multi-talented and he's going to be really fun to explore his skills. I think he has skills that people haven't seen,” Cone said of the young La Salle star.
Here’s a player Cone describes as versatile. And he was on point.
Kevin Quiambao can play multiple positions, making the seasoned mentor giggle about his endless potential.
Justin Brownlee
“He's been in our system for seven years, so he wears the system on him. He knows it so well and knows how to move within it. And and that's why he plays at such a high level. That's our big advantage at this point."
There’s no question in everyone’s mind Justin Brownlee is Gilas’ main man.
The naturalized Filipino has proven his worth time and again. Remember his brilliant outing against China in the semifinals of the 2023 Asian Games?
Brownlee is expected to whip up some magic as the country eyes an Olympic berth.
Mason Amos
“He’s our 13th man.”
Mason Amos is taking every experience he can get with the national team.
Eventually, the Ateneo stalwart will be one of the vital pieces for Gilas in future Gilas conquests in international competitions.
Japeth Aguilar
“He's still athletic. I don't know how he does it. He's 37 years old, but he jumps out of the gym still...”
He may be close to 40, but Japeth Aguilar is still valuable to the national team.
Aguilar is stepping in for injured AJ Edu. But he can still pretty much hold his own against the world’s best.
Aguilar has been to battle one too many times with Gilas. And he knows what it takes to win.
June Mar Fajardo
Over the years, Cone has heaped praises on the seven-time MVP.
Everyone knows what value he brings to the team.
The FIBA OQT will take place from July 2 to 7. It will air on One Sports, One Sports+, and the Pilipinas Live app.