Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone during the Fiba Asia Cup 2025 qualifiers game. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Coach Tim Cone can’t wait to be back on the Gilas Pilipinas sidelines four months before the 2025 Fiba Asia Cup.

Cone expressed his excitement over his upcoming duty with the national team following Tuesday night’s draw where Gilas was slotted in Group D along with New Zealand, Chinese Taipei and Iran.

“Our draw: NZ, Taiwan, Iraq. Can’t wait to get back with the Gilas guys and get back to work,” wrote Cone.

READ: Gilas Pilipinas draws familiar foes in 2025 Fiba Asia Cup

“All-Filipino first, but looking forward to the Asia Cup in August. We’ll be ready.”

Gilas has had recent success against New Zealand and Taipei having faced the two squads during the Asia Cup qualifiers.

It may not have shown in the third leg when Gilas dropped both games to Chinese Taipei and New Zealand but in the second leg, the Philippines toppled New Zealand, 93-89, at Mall of Asia Arena.

Gilas also defeated Chinese Taipei convincingly in the qualifiers’ first window, also on home soil, 106-53.

Iraq, though, is a foe that the Philippines hasn’t faced in quite a while.

READ: Tim Cone owns up to Gilas’ fatigue, lauds players in PBA semis

Their last Fiba match was all the way back in 2017 when Gilas defeated the Iraqis, 84-68, with a completely different lineup.

Now, it’s back to square one for all four teams in Group D, much like it will be for the other groupings.

Qatar, Australia, Lebanon and Korea will duke it out in Group A.

Filipino-Guamanian Jericho Cruz will be in Group B alongside powerhouse Japan, Syria and Iran.

Group C, meanwhile, is comprised of China, Jordan, India and Saudi Arabia.

Before Cone can focus on Gilas duties, though, he will first have to manage Ginebra in the Philippine Cup after a disappointing loss to TNT in the Commissioner’s Cup Finals.

The Gin Kings open their campaign on April 23 against Terrafirma at Araneta Coliseum.