Home court advantage makakatulong-Cone

MANILA, Philippines – Ang pagkakaroon ng homecourt advantage ang magpapalakas sa tsansa ng Gilas Pilipinas  na makamit ang isa sa tatlong tiket para sa 2016 Olympic Games.

Ito ang pahayag ni PBA winningest coach Tim Cone ng Barangay Ginebra San Miguel kasabay ng paghikayat sa mga Filipino fans na suportahan ang kampanya ng Nationals sa Olympic Qualifying Tournament sa Hulyo 4-10 sa Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena.

“The homecourt advantage is huge,” sabi ni Cone. “At the FIBA Asia Championships in 2013, we got a big lift from the crowd when we beat South Korea in the semifinals.  It was great coaching by Chot (Reyes) but the fans also helped by cheering for Gilas from the start.”

“When we host the Olympic qualifiers, maybe we’ll get some home cooking.  Our players are used to the venue conditions.  They’re familiar with the rims.  I’m not suggesting we do like the Boston Celtics (during the Red Auerbach era) when they shut off the air-conditioning and the hot water in the opposing team’s lockerrooms.

But that gives you an idea of what a host can do,” dagdag pa ng two-time PBA Grand Slam champion mentor.

Napili ang Pilipinas na maging host ng isa sa tatlong qualifying tournament ng FIBA sa isang pulong ng Executive Committee sa Mies, Geneva.

Ang dalawa pa ay ang Turin (Italy) at Belgrade (Serbia).

Dahil ang Pilipinas, Italy at Serbia ay kasama sa 15 seeds sa tatlong tournaments, tatlo pang bansa ang idinagdag sa kompetisyon.