Gilas Pilipinas Men will take on the Macau Black Bears in a highly anticipated exhibition match on July 28 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum, serving both as a crucial warm-up and a send-off before the team departs for the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The friendly clash offers Gilas valuable court time ahead of their campaign in the continental tournament set from August 5 to 17, where they’ll battle in Group C alongside New Zealand, Chinese Taipei, and Iraq.
“This tune-up game is an important part of our preparations,” said Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) President Al Panlilio. “It’s not just about getting quality competition—it’s also about giving our fans a chance to show their support and rally behind Gilas before the team leaves.”
The timing of the game is especially crucial, Panlilio added, with many players only recently wrapping up the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals, limiting the team’s preparation window.
The Macau Black Bears, a professional squad competing in the East Asia Super League, are expected to pose a tough challenge. Comprising local talents, mixed-heritage players, and imports, the Black Bears have previously demonstrated their strength by defeating the Chinese national team, 83-78, in a tune-up last year.
“They’re a strong team,” said Gilas head coach Tim Cone, who led the Philippines to gold in the 2022 Asian Games. “They’ve got solid imports and have proven they can go toe-to-toe with national teams. It’ll be an interesting and competitive game for us.”
Coached by Garrett Kelly, the Black Bears were formerly known as Chong Son Kung Fu and competed in the ASEAN Basketball League from 2017 to 2018.
Gilas Pilipinas will be without big man Kai Sotto, who is still recovering from an ACL injury. The team aims to build momentum ahead of the Asia Cup, where they’re looking to improve on their ninth-place finish in the last edition.