Coach Tim Cone felt more Filipino than ever as he led Gilas Pilipinas to a historic victory in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Riga, Latvia.
The triumph against Latvia marked the first time the Philippines defeated a European opponent in international basketball since their win over Spain at the 1960 Summer Olympics.
Having lived in the Philippines since the age of nine, Cone considers himself essentially Filipino, despite his blonde hair and green eyes.
“I grew up in the Philippines. I’ve been there my whole life,” he shared, asserting his deep connection to the country.
Cone’s ties to the Philippines run deep, with his formative years spent in Baler, Aurora, where his father worked for a logging company.
His former classmates from Baler Central School fondly remember him. “Iyan si Tim Cone naglalakad din iyan nong araw nagdi-dribble ng bola pauwi sa logpond nila sa Castillo. Kung minsan nakasakay sa pickup (truck) nila together with sister Julie,” reminisced Claro Gonzales.
Mervin Rubio, another classmate, recalled their teacher, Mr. Custodio, and wondered if Cone had ever participated in farm work, a common school activity during elementary days. “Ang tikas pala ni Mr. Custodio noon pa, pinag gamas din kaya si Tim Cone,” he mused.
Born in the United States, Cone moved to the Philippines with his family, later transferring to an international school in Manila before returning to the U.S. After college, Cone came back to the Philippines at 24, beginning his legendary coaching career with Alaska.
He amassed 25 titles, including two PBA grand slams, and coached the national teams in the 1998 Asian Games and the 1998 Jones Cup.
Cone’s recent success with Gilas Pilipinas includes a dramatic gold medal win against China at the Asian Games, avenging a 1998 loss.
His team, featuring stars like Kai Sotto, Junemar Fajardo, and naturalized Filipino Justin “Noypi” Brownlee, continued their impressive run by defeating the sixth-ranked Latvian team and securing a semifinal spot in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Nenad Vucinic, recognizing Cone’s achievement, praised him: “Amazing job by coach Tim! Latvia coach Luca, one of the best tacticians in the world, and coach Tim dominated him.”
Regardless of the outcome of their semifinal clash with Brazil, Cone and his Gilas squad have demonstrated that Philippine basketball is on the rise.
“How many times do you get to an international area and have success? That’s a huge feather in your cap, not just for me but for all the players and all the people back home,” Cone remarked proudly.
