GILAS Pilipinas braces for busy weeks ahead.
Gilas Pilipinas is about to embark on one of its most grueling weeks yet under head coach Tim Cone, as the national basketball team prepares for an action-packed schedule that will test both their endurance and preparation.
On February 13, the team will depart for Doha, Qatar, where they’ll kick off a five-day training camp that will feature a series of three friendly games before heading into the final leg of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.
The mini-tournament in Doha will get underway the very next day as Gilas takes on the Qatar national team to open the Doha International Friendly Basketball Championship.
“It’s going to be a quick trip, just a few friendlies, basic exhibition games,” Cone said.
He explained that in the short layover in Qatar, there will be a mini-tournament which will feature Lebanon and Egypt, providing a well-rounded challenge ahead of the qualifiers.
Once the games wrap up in Doha, Gilas will return to Manila for a brief respite, before flying out to Chinese Taipei for their crucial Asia Cup qualifier against the host nation on February 20.
From there, they’ll head to Auckland for a rematch with New Zealand on February 23.
The schedule is brutal, but Cone remains focused on the bigger picture.
“It’s going to be tough. It’s going to be really hard on the players with all the travel — Doha, back to Manila, then Taiwan, then Hong Kong, and finally Auckland,” he said, outlining the rapid-fire itinerary that will span less than 10 days.
“Yeah, we’ll be covering a lot of ground in a short time. But that’s the goal — it’s all about preparing for what’s ahead,” Cone added.
Gilas has already secured its spot in the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup, set to take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from August 5-17. The team is treating this whirlwind trip as part of its ongoing training for the continental tournament, formerly known as the FIBA Asia Men’s Championship.
Currently, Gilas sits atop Group B with a flawless 4-0 record, including dominant wins over Chinese Taipei (106-53) and a dramatic 93-89 triumph over New Zealand.
With the qualification already secured, this intensive schedule is designed to keep the team sharp and ready for the challenges awaiting them in the Asia Cup.