PH Sports Updates: Tim Cone to coach Gilas in Asiad, Obiena back to winning ways, and more

These are the sports stories you might have missed last week:

Tim Cone will coach Gilas Pilipinas in the upcoming Asian Games after Chot Reyes "stepped aside" from the position.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) announced the development on September 7, as it aims to bring the best possible roster for the upcoming 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China given the limited time.

Cone, who previously said that he didn't want the Gilas coaching job, had a change of heart after San Miguel Corporation boss Ramon S. Ang asked him to accept the work.

SBP is yet to announce the Philippines' final roster for the Asiad but it and Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) officials said naturalized player Justin Brownlee will banner the squad as Jordan Clarkson is unavailable for the quadrennial meet.

Japan B. League and Korean Basketball League boys Dwight Ramos, Kai Sotto, and Rhenz Abando will also be out.

Cone and his team will aim for a better finish after Yeng Guiao and company ended their Jakarta-Palembang, Indonesia stint in fifth place.

Ernest John "EJ" Obiena shrugged off his dismal 10th-place finish in the 10-man Zurich leg of the 2023 Wanda Diamond League by capturing three medals in a row.

Obiena hurdled 5.92 meters to secure back-to-back golds in ISTAF Berlin and NetAachen Domspringen in Germany before posting the same height clearance in the Diamond League's Brussels tiff for the bronze.

The third-ranked pole vaulter will next compete in the last leg of the Diamond League in Eugene, Oregon in the United States on September 16-17.

He will head to Hangzhou, China after his Eugene meet stint to represent the Philippines in the pandemic-delayed 19th Asian Games.

Denso Airybees announced on their website the signing of former Creamline setter Jia Morado-De Guzman on September 7.

The six-time Premier Volleyball League (PVL) champion will become the fifth Filipino volleyball player to set her foot in Japan's topflight V. League Division 1 after Jaja Santiago, Dindin Santiago-Manabat, Marck Espejo, and Bryan Bagunas.

De Guzman is expected to debut on October 28 when Denso takes on defending champion NEC Red Rockets before battling Santiago's JT Marvelous on November 4.

A 1-2 finish in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) and Tekken 7 propelled the Philippines to the International Esports Federation's (IESF) World Esports Championship (WEC) 2023 overall championship crown, beating over 111 countries to rule the annual multi-nation tournament for esports athletes.

The AP Bren-laden Sibol dethroned reigning titlist Indonesia via a 3-1 victory in their best-of-five grand finals series. Meanwhile, Alexandre "AK" Laverez settled for silver in Tekken 7 as 2022 Tekken World Tour Finals champion Atif "Atif Butt" Ijaz took him down in their gold medal clash.

"Becoming the overall champion at the IESF esports world championship is a significant testament to how Filipinos can achieve at the highest levels in the global stage of esports, where height, weight, gender, or age has no bounds, showcasing our skill, resourcefulness and ingenuity," Philippine Esports Organization (PESO) president Brian Lim said in a statement after Sibol's emergence as WEC 2023 overall champion.

The Philippine women's national volleyball team (PWNVT) decimated Uzbekistan, 25-20, 25-17, 25-23, for a tournament-saving victory after four consecutive losses in the 22nd Asian Senior Women's Volleyball Championship in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand last August 5.

The National University-backed Filipina spikers ended their campaign in 13th place out of the 14-team tournament.

By defeating Uzbekistan in straight sets, the nationals rose to 66th place globally after dropping to rank 76.

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