Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA -- Tim Cone took full responsibility for the Philippines' shock defeat to Chinese Taipei in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers on Thursday night, admitting that he "should have prepared us better."

Gilas Pilipinas absorbed their first loss of the qualifiers against a beefed-up Chinese Taipei squad at the Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium, 91-84. It was their first loss to Chinese Taipei since 2013.

READ: Gilas Pilipinas falls short vs Chinese Taipei

While Gilas has already qualified to the FIBA Asia Cup, the result was nonetheless disappointing after the team's excellent run in 2024.

"No one feels worse about this devastating loss than I do, and I take full ownership of it," Cone said on social media on Friday morning. "We knew they were going to be much improved from the last time we played them, but they were even better than we thought."

"That's on me. No doubt, I should have prepared us better," he added.

Chinese Taipei featured a pair of naturalized players who proved to be thorns on the side of the Philippines. 

Mohammad Al Bachir Gadiaga -- who is classified as a local -- poured 21 points to go with four rebounds, while Brandon Gilbeck had eight points and eight rebounds.

It was a Gilbeck slam dunk in the closing seconds that put the finishing touches on Chinese Taipei's upset, and spoiled a 39-point explosion from Justin Brownlee.

"There is obviously a lot that I would have done differently in that game if given another chance, but that is not possible now," said Cone. "Only thing we can do at this point is move on. I will be better. We will be better."

Gilas is now 4-1 in Group B ahead of their rematch against New Zealand at the Spark Arena in Auckland on Sunday. The winner of that game will emerge as group-winners.