Tim Cone said the Samahang Basketbol has the list of Fil-foreigner prospects that could one day join the Gilas Pilipinas program.
FIBA imposed a new rule raising the passport age from 16 to 18 Tuesday, Dec. 9.
This means the international basketball governing body will recognize the Fil-foreign players who acquired a Philippine passport before their 18th birthday as locals.
While this was a welcome development for Gilas Pilipinas, coach Tim Cone admitted he was not really focused on that side of the national team's affairs.
“You really have to ask the SBP (Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas) because they're the ones that keep a list on who's got passports and who doesn't have. I don't really have a clue,” said Cone after Ginebra’s 108-77 win over Terrafirma in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Friday, Dec. 12.
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Without a doubt, the tweak in the old rule could benefit the entire program, which is constantly looking for talents outside the country.
“We'll probably have to go around the league and find out. I assume the SBP is doing that right now, finding out who's got 18 rather than 16, and see how that affects us,” Cone said.
But with Cone keeping a tight pool for Gilas since assuming the head coaching position two years ago, there is little chance that the new rule will affect the current roster.
“Right now, it really doesn't affect us at all until we can figure out the pool of people that might have slipped in now as opposed to not being able to be in before,” Cone said.
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Still, the 25-time PBA champion mentor is keeping its doors open for anything that could help the team get better.
“That's all I can really tell you. It's not a real focus of mine at this point. But you're always looking to get better, you're always looking to improve,” Cone said.
“Getting a guy like QMB (Quentin Millora-Brown) was really impactful on our team so.. you just don't know who's out there and what's to get, but you're going keep your eyes and ears open.”
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Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.