Gilas battles Hong Kong in FIBA ACQ

GILAS Pilipinas will make its keenly awaited debut in the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers 2025 when the national squad battles host Hong Kong on Thursday, February 22, at the Tsuen Wan Stadium.

Arriving in the former British Crown colony on Tuesday, Gilas had an extra day to get acclimatized before the national team’s 8 p.m. collision.

New Philippine team coach Tim Cone knows that expectations from Filipino fans are high, especially since the latest Gilas iteration is a mixture of veteran and young players.

Gilas battles Hong Kong in FIBA ACQ

But Cone said he was straightforward right in the team’s first day of training camp at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna, emphasizing the importance of “building the right foundation.”

Gilas has set its sight on making the Olympics, either through a successful performance in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Riga, Latvia, this July that will reward them a spot in Paris this year, or in the Summer Games in Los Angeles this 2028.

“At the Inspire camp, everything was foundational. We’re not gonna take any shortcut, not gonna jump around but build consistently forward,” said Cone, prior to departing for Hong Kong last Tuesday morning.

“It’s important that we win, but it’s more important we build on foundation and the next one after that.”

The Philippine team will have reinstated naturalized player Justin Brownlee leading the way, along with last year’s FIBA World Cup members Japeth Aguilar, Scottie Thompson and Jamie Malonzo, along with newly minted PBA Commissioner’s Cup champion CJ Perez of San Miguel Beer, TNT sharpshooter Calvin Oftana and defensive whiz Chris Newsome from Meralco.

Young turks Kai Sotto, Carl Tamayo and Dwight Ramos, all Japan B.League players, along with Kevin Quiambao of La Salle, are also there to add size, athleticism and dynamism.

Many-time national player June Mar Fajardo and young big man AJ Edu won’t be around though due to their respective injuries.

Gilas will be facing a familiar face in Duncan Reid, who will be leading Hong Kong’s side in the opening game of Group B in the first window.

Reid, a 6-8 forward, averaged FIBA career numbers of 13.1 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists dating back to his debut for Hong Kong during the FIBA Asia Championship for men in Manila in 2013.