Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone is calling on the Filipino faithful to bring the noise as the national team looks to complete a clean two-game sweep against Guam in the opening window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
Fresh off an 87-46 demolition of Guam at the University of Guam Calvo Field House on Friday night, Gilas returns to home soil for the Monday rematch at the Blue Eagle Gym. But despite the 41-point rout, Cone refuses to take their 81st-ranked opponent lightly.
“They’re going to come incredibly motivated,” Cone warned, noting how Jericho Cruz and the Guam side pushed Gilas early, stayed within range at halftime, and only unraveled offensively in the second half. “They went toe-to-toe with us in that first quarter. They’re not going to roll over.”
To make sure Gilas keeps control from start to finish, Cone is banking on the country’s unmatched home-court energy — the so-called sixth man that has powered many of the program’s biggest moments.
“Hopefully, we’ll have the home crowd that will get us pumped up,” he said, stressing that fan presence could give the team an edge in a quick-turnaround rematch.
Gilas has been invincible at home since last year’s Asia Cup qualifiers, highlighted by a historic 93-89 triumph over New Zealand at the Mall of Asia Arena — the Filipinos’ first-ever win over the Tall Blacks in a FIBA-sanctioned game.
Cone wants to tap into that same electricity as they defend home floor on December 1.
“We love our basketball back home, everybody knows that. We’re gonna have a big sellout whenever Gilas plays,” he said. “We don’t play at home very often, so when we do, everybody’s excited.”
“And so we’re hoping that could be the spark that helps us come back, lock in, and finish this window with another win.”
