Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone sees the tune-up games in Doha, Qatar and the away games against Chinese Taipei and the Tall Blacks as overall preparation for the FIBA Asia Cup in August. Gilas will leave for Doha on Feb. 13, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas)
Despite their perfect 4-0 record in Group B, head coach Tim Cone emphasized that the Doha trip is not just about the upcoming qualifiers against Chinese Taipei (Feb. 20) and New Zealand (Feb. 23) but a broader preparation for the FIBA Asia Cup itself.
“The basic thing is, we’re using this Doha trip as a chance to prepare—not just for this window because we’ve already qualified—but for the bigger picture in August,” said Cone via Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP).
The coach also acknowledged the rigorous travel schedule, moving from Doha to Taipei and then to New Zealand within days, but stressed that this challenge would benefit the team in the long run.
“If we were still fighting for qualification, we wouldn’t go to Doha. We’d be focusing on beating Chinese Taipei and New Zealand. But since we’re in, we’re taking this opportunity to play high-quality opponents and get our team battle-ready,” he added.
Friendlies in Qatar
Gilas, currently ranked 34th in the world, will face:
- Qatar (Ranked 92nd) – Feb. 15, 1:30 a.m. (Manila time)
- Lebanon (Ranked 29th) – Feb. 15, 11:00 p.m. (Manila time)
- Egypt (Ranked 38th) – Feb. 17, 1:30 a.m. (Manila time)
These matches will serve as valuable experience against different playing styles before they take on Chinese Taipei and New Zealand on the road.
One of Gilas’s biggest challenges is adjusting to the absence of Kai Sotto, who suffered a torn ACL while playing for the Koshigaya Alphas in Japan’s B.League. His injury required surgery on February 2, and he is expected to be out for up to a year.
“He’s young—22 years old. If you’re going to have an injury like this, now’s the time,” Cone remarked. “He’ll recover well. But in basketball, you feel bad about injuries for 10 minutes, then move on because there’s nothing you can do about it.”
Replacing Sotto in the lineup is Troy Rosario of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel. At the same time, De La Salle’s Mason Amos will likely step in for Japeth Aguilar, who will also miss the Doha games.
Program Director Alfrancis Chua reiterated that the Qatar friendlies will help Gilas adjust to life without Sotto while giving other big men a chance to step up.
“Instead of just practicing here, we’re giving them real game experience,” said Chua, who also serves as San Miguel Corporation’s sports director. “The other big guys will have bigger roles now, and we’ll see how AJ Edu fits in after his injury.”
Edu, born in Cyprus to a Filipino mother, is returning from a knee injury, while Jamie Malonzo is also returning after suffering a calf injury in April.
Gilas’ dominant performance in the qualifiers
Gilas has been dominant in their FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers campaign so far, registering:
✅ Hong Kong 64-94 Gilas (Away)
✅ Gilas 106-53 Chinese Taipei (Home)
✅ Gilas 93-89 New Zealand (Home)
✅ Gilas 93-54 Hong Kong (Home)
With a 4-0 record, the Philippines has already booked its place in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025. However, the upcoming games against Chinese Taipei and New Zealand will provide additional competitive experience as they continue to build towards August
With their core players returning from injury, a series of strong friendlies, and a well-structured training program, Gilas Pilipinas is positioning itself for a deep run in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025. The road ahead is challenging, but with proper preparation and strategic adjustments, the national team is determined to make a strong statement on the international stage.