Gilas Pilipinas during the national anthem ahead of its match in the 2025 Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers against Chinese Taipei. –FIBA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Coach Tim Cone placed all the blame for Gilas Pilipinas’ Thursday night loss on himself as the Filipinos lost to Chinese Taipei for the first time in 12 years.
The Nationals bowed to a retooled Chinese Taipei, 91-84, at Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium, in a game where they struggled to get any rhythm going with only Justin Brownlee as the lone bright spot.
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“No one feels worse about this devastating loss than I do, and I take full ownership of it,” wrote Cone on X (formerly Twitter) on the morning after the loss.
RESULTS: Gilas Pilipinas vs Chinese Taipei at Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers
Cone said Gilas had expected a better Chinese Taipei squad, which had new personnel almost from top to bottom, but he admitted that he had underestimated the drastic changes in their opponents.
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“We knew they were going to be much improved from the last time we played them, but they were even better than we thought. That’s on me. No doubt, I should have prepared us better,” Cone added.
No one feels worse about this devastating loss than I do, and I take full ownership of it. We knew they were going to be much improved from the last time we played them, but they were even better than we thought. That's on me. No doubt, I should have prepared us better. 1 of 2
— Tim Cone (@manilacone) February 21, 2025
The Philippines defeated the Chinese in the first window of the Asia Cup qualifiers, 106-53, but the scene changed a year after for both sides.
This time, Gilas didn’t have young big man Kai Sotto, who’s currently out with a torn ACL injury.
SCHEDULE: Gilas Pilipinas at Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers third window
Chinese Taipei, meanwhile, added some hefty firepower in the paint with naturalized newcomers, Mohammad Gadiaga and Brandon Gilbeck.
Gadiaga finished with 21 points while Gilbeck finished with eight to his name plus eight rebounds, boosting a Chinese-Taipei side that also waxed hot from deep with 15 three-pointers.
FILE–Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Brownlee’s all-around game of 39 points along with eight assists and six rebounds simply went down the drain. His output accounted for nearly half of Gilas’ total, highlighting the lack of help from the locals.
But the loss wasn’t on Brownlee nor the locals, if you ask Cone.
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“There is obviously a lot that I would have done differently in that game if given another chance, but that is not possible now. Only thing we can do at this point is move on. I will be better. We will be better,” he said.
Cone and the Philippines will have roughly two days to recalibrate before facing New Zealand on Sunday at Spark Arena in Auckland at 10 pm (Manila time).