COACH Tim Cone insists Gilas Pilipinas was never simply chasing a one-point victory against Jordan.
Instead, the narrow margin was meant to serve as a mindset that forced the team to treat every possession as if the game could be decided by a single point.
“There’s a reason for the one-point win,” Cone explained. “When you’re working for a one-point win, you have to value every possession, offensively and defensively.”
Cone clarified that the coaching staff was not targeting another 82-81 thriller. The goal was to play with the urgency and discipline required in a game that could come down to the final possession.
“We’re not necessarily looking for a one-point win, but we’re trying to play as if it’s going to be a one-point win,” he said. “And that means valuing each possession defensively and offensively.”
Gilas ultimately did exactly that against Jordan, surviving 82-81 in overtime to open the second round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers with a crucial victory.
For Cone, however, the narrow margin itself is hardly important in the long run. “I would have certainly preferred a 10-point win than a one-point win,” he admitted.
But with the Philippines fighting to keep its World Cup hopes alive, getting the victory was what mattered most.
“At this point, we’re just trying to stay alive and keep fighting for that World Cup,” Cone said.
The Gilas coach knows the significance of the campaign extends far beyond the team itself.
“We know how important it is to us. We know how important it is to the players. We know how important it is to the country,” Cone stressed.
And that is why Cone believes the scoreline may eventually fade from memory provided Gilas accomplishes the bigger goal.
“People just remember that we won,” he said. “They won’t remember the one-point win probably 10 or 15 years from now. But if we make the World Cup, maybe we might remember this game a little bit more.”
After the dramatic win over Jordan, Gilas now turns its attention to Iran on Sunday, knowing that every possession and potentially every point could again make the difference. (Jesus Nathaniel Valdez)
