Cone hopeful for solid Gilas core   

TIM Cone is expecting a solid Gilas Pilipinas roster by the time the national team resumes its training in preparation for the fifth window of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers in November. The presence of young big men Kai Sotto, Quentin Millora-Brown and Mike Philips though remains uncertain at the moment, at least, based on Cone’s recent dealing with them or their handlers. “Nothing is ever sure, as we have learned over the last couple of years, but we certainly are expecting them to be available,” Cone told The Manila Times on Monday. Nonetheless, the American said under the ideal circumstances, the three bigs, along with Dwight Ramos and AJ Edu, who plays in Japan, along with Kevin Quiambao and Carl Tamayo, who sees action in the Korean Basketball League should be available by the November window. “Yes, of course. The Korean and Japan leagues are required to release their players for the Windows (and all FIBA sponsored events). The Asian Games was not a FIBA event,” he added. Cone had all sorts of chemistry problems during Gilas’ recent Asian Games stint in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan as Sotto and Co. weren’t there to help the Philippines defend its basketball crown. The result was a 1-2...