Goorjian: Cone perfect for Gilas

Brian Goorjian is tipping his hats off to Tim Cone, saying that he is the right man to handle Gilas Pilipinas in the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in July.

Goorjian, who led Australia to a bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics, said Cone is the perfect coach for Gilas as he knows the Filipinos like the back of his hand for coaching in the Philippine Basketball Association for more than 40 years.

Aside from that, he is smart and very knowledgeable, making him the winningest mentor in the history of the PBA with 25 titles.

“I think Tim Cone is the perfect coach for the future of Philippine basketball. He’s been there, he knows the system, he knows the players, he’s smart and he’s knowledgeable,” said Goorjian at the sidelines of the East Asia Super League basketball clinic at the Hoops Dome in Cebu on Saturday.

“There’s no one I have more respect for in the game of basketball in the Philippines than Tim Cone.”

Goorjian knows what he is talking about.

In fact, it was Cone who denied him a PBA title when Barangay Ginebra San Miguel beat Bay Area Dragons in a thrilling seven-game series of the Commissioner’s Cup last year.

Then, Cone became part of Chot Reyes’ coaching staff at Gilas Pilipinas in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games and FIBA World Cup before guiding the Filipinos to a historic gold medal in the Asian Games.

Earlier this year, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas searched for a full-time mentor and Goorjian was mentioned as among the candidates.

Cone, eventually, landed the job and is now set to coach the Filipinos to the Olympic Qualifying Tournament that will be held in Latvia in July.

Goorjian gave his stamp of approval to the federation’s decision.

“Tim Cone is somebody that I learned from, and his success in the Asian Cup and now what he’s done already in the window, I just think that the Philippine is gonna go on a surge,” said the outspoken Australian, who will be calling the shots for Sydney Kings in the National Basketball League.