WITH June Mar Fajardo set to step away from Gilas Pilipinas, Tim Cone is already looking at the next wave of big men who could help fill the void in the national team.
Cone pointed to Quentin Millora-Brown and Mike Phillips as two players who could provide the size and athleticism Gilas will need in the next window.
“Well, QMB is on the horizon, Mike Phillips is around,” Cone said. “We still got guys that can step into the program and give us some size and athleticism.”
Fajardo played his final game for Gilas in Sunday’s 68-56 victory over Iran, closing a decade-plus international career that included the Philippines’ historic Asian Games gold medal in 2023.
But while Gilas loses one of its most experienced big men, Cone believes there are still options available within the program.
The biggest question, however, is not talent but availability. “But again, you just don’t know the availability,” Cone said.
With the next qualifying window still ahead, Cone and the Gilas coaching staff will have to evaluate which players are healthy and available to step into larger roles as the Philippines continues its push for the 2027 FIBA World Cup. (Jesus Nathaniel Valdez)
