MANILA, Philippines – A week ahead of the second window of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifications, a sluggish Gilas Pilipinas team began training camp at the Inspire Sports Academy in Laguna on Friday.

Coach Tim Cone was aware of the mood and anticipated it because the majority of the players are returning from their respective experiences in the East Asia Super League, the B. league in Japan and the PBA Governors’ Cup finals, which just ended.

According to head coach Tim Cone, Gilas Pilipinas had a slow start to their brief training camp. Cone acknowledged the team’s poor performance on the first day but voiced no serious worries in an interview with One Sports. He expressed faith in the team’s capacity to get better as the camp goes on and underlined that these early difficulties are a necessary part of the process.

Cone maintained his optimism, emphasizing that the group is anticipated to improve in the days ahead. His comments demonstrated an emphasis on establishing momentum and developing gradually over the course of the training session.

The fact that the whole 15-man Gilas pool was present, including winger Jamie Malonzo, who is recuperating from an injury, was encouraging. Despite the early difficulties, the full turnout was a comforting indication of the team’s dedication to preparedness. The participation of every player highlights the group’s endeavor to improve team cohesion and preparedness for future contests.

With expectations of development and improvement as the team moves through the program, the early session establishes the goals for the brief camp. The emphasis now switches to making the most of the time available for efficient preparation.

After playing for the Changwon LG Sakers in the Korean Basketball League (KBL), young big man Carl Tamayo is scheduled to arrive at the camp on Saturday.

The national squad has not gathered since the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in August of last year.

The first practice of Gilas Pilipinas’ training camp was the most difficult, according to head coach Tim Cone, who emphasized the work needed to refocus and reorganize the team. According to Cone, the first session frequently entails going over offensive tactics again and getting the players acquainted. He clarified that these sessions are characterized by periods of perplexity as players attempt to refresh their memories and become used to the system after being away from it for a while.

The closed-door training camp came to an end on Sunday, giving the coaching staff a chance to assess the team’s readiness. Citing the players’ combined experience, Cone voiced faith in the team’s capacity to get better as the camp goes on. He pointed out that having an experienced player on the team will help them gain speed and improve their playmaking.

Restoring unity and making sure that everyone involved understood their roles within the system were the main goals of this camp. Cone remained upbeat despite the usual difficulties of the first day, emphasizing that these obstacles are normal and doable.

An essential stage in the team’s preparation for future competitions is the brief training camp. It is intended to close any performance gaps, strengthen tactical knowledge, and foster team cohesion. Now that the first session is over, the emphasis is on making the most of the remaining time to make sure the team is ready for the difficulties that lie ahead.

A highly anticipated Group B showdown between Gilas Pilipinas and New Zealand is scheduled for November 21 at the Mall of Asia Arena. After two games, neither team has lost, so this matchup is a race for first place.

Three days later, the host team will play winless Hong Kong to wrap out the four-day competition at the same location, hoping to finish strongly in the group stage. As the tournament goes on, the games are essential for establishing momentum and rankings.