GILAS PILIPINAS is now taking fans’ suggestions into account by expanding their national team player pool, adding four notable names as they begin preparations for the FIBA Asia Cup 2025.
Following their underwhelming showings in the final two games of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers against New Zealand and Chinese Taipei, the Men’s National Basketball Team is finally opening up to new talent beyond their previously small selection.
Gilas is set to welcome well-known names in Philippine basketball, including Ginebra’s RJ Abarrientos and Troy Rosario, Magnolia’s Zavier Lucero, and athletic guard Rhenz Abando, a returning member of the squad.
Deepening the Talent
During their first practice, Gilas head coach Tim Cone addressed the media, discussing the addition of these players as part of their build-up for the tournament scheduled for August 5–17 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
“He’s (Abarrientos) part of our long list, Troy is part of our long list. We needed to add a couple guys on our list just to make sure,” he explained to the media after Monday’s first day of practice for Gilas Pilipinas.
In addition to the two Ginebra standouts who recently pushed their PBA Season 49 Semifinals series against San Miguel to a Game 7, Lucero and Abando are also notable additions to Gilas’ expanded talent pool. However, a few hurdles remain.
Abando is currently committed to Strong Group Athletics as they prepare for the William Jones Cup in Taiwan, while Lucero is still in the United States on vacation following Magnolia’s quarterfinal exit in the PBA Philippine Cup.
“We actually had Lucero, but he’s in the States at the moment, and we had Rhenz Abando, but I think Rhenz is going to be in Taiwan,” Cone went on to share.
Lucero’s Eligibility
The inclusion of the Magnolia forward in the pool is a welcome development for national team fans, thanks to the energy he brings to the court. However, Lucero’s eligibility is still under review by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP).
“The SBP is checking that out now. But he (Lucero) is handing in all of his paperwork and he’s checking that out. They are checking that out now,” Cone said.
At present, it’s still uncertain whether Lucero obtained his Philippine passport before the age of 16, which is FIBA’s key requirement for a player to be considered a local.
That said, there have been exceptions to this rule—such as Chris Newsome, who was still classified as a local in FIBA competitions despite acquiring his Philippine passport after turning 16.
Standing at 6-foot-6, Lucero was born in Vallejo, California, to a Mexican father and a Filipina mother. His parents recently flew in to support him during the final stretch of Magnolia’s PBA Philippine Cup campaign.
Nevertheless, Gilas remains optimistic that Lucero qualifies as a homegrown player, which is why he was included in the pool for the Jeddah-bound squad. “We think he is but not until we get full disclosure…” Cone said.
Fight For A Spot
Meanwhile, Abarrientos and Rosario were present, where their session focused mostly on film review, with limited court activity as coaches closely monitored player workload—especially for those still active in the PBA semifinals.
The two former national team members were joined by Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, Jamie Malonzo, Calvin Oftana, Chris Newsome, CJ Perez, and international-based players Carl Tamayo and Dwight Ramos.
Justin Brownlee and AJ Edu are set to arrive by Tuesday, completing the roster and giving the coaching staff a full lineup to evaluate in forming the best possible 12-man team for the Asia Cup.
“The 12 we’re bringing is not written in stone. We could make some minute changes. But RJ is certainly a candidate, Troy is a candidate,” Cone explained.
“We’ll see what happens as we move forward. But they’re here, and they’re part of the long list that we have, just in case something happens,” the tactician added.
With Cone leading the way and a growing, more versatile pool that mixes PBA standouts, overseas-based players, and rising prospects, Gilas is laying the groundwork for long-term continuity and development.
