Tim Cone remains as the interim head of the Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball team, which recently won the Hangzhou Asian Games gold medal.
Cone said this after he and Jojo Lastimosa were honored during the Philippine Basketball Association Press Corps Awards Night at the Novotel Hotel in Cubao, Quezon City.
“As of now, I’m still the head coach until they hire somebody else,” said 65-year old Cone as Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas maps out its plans until the next FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2027.
Discussions in the next plans for Gilas are still ongoing, according to Cone, and he has not been informed yet of his status.
As coach of the Ginebra San Miguel Gin Kings, Cone was named the winner of the Virgilio ‘Baby’ Dalupan Coach of the Year, while Lastimosa, who handles the TNT Tropang Giga, got his recognition as the Danny Floro Executive of the Year
Cone, who holds a record of 25 championships, won the award named after the late great Baby Dalupan, in 1994, 1996, and 2014.
It was the fourth Coach of the Year honor for Cone, who steered the Gin Kings to an impressive championship against powerhouse guest team Bay Area Dragons in the Season 47 Commissioner’s Cup. Peter Atencio
“Winning this is really, really special. But we really have many quality coaches in the league,” said Cone.
Lastimosa was feted as team manager of the Tropang Giga, which earned its first championship in six years during the Governors’ Cup this year. Peter Atencio