GILAS PILIPINAS head coach Tim Cone will finally get a taste of having a tough defensive big man in the shaded area, as AJ Edu will join them for the next 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
The national squad is now scheduled to go to Doha, Qatar, for a series of friendlies on February 13, in preparation for the final round of qualifiers against Chinese Taipei and New Zealand on the road.
However, this tour will also prepare them for the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup, which will be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in August, where they have already qualified after establishing a pristine 4-0 record in Group B.
Along with that thought, returning Gilas stars Edu and Jamie Malonzo will now take the focus, as injuries have plagued the national squad for quite some time. This journey, particularly for them, will be critical.
Maximizing Time
Given the limited time available for national teams to prepare due to how FIBA planned the tournament’s games, Cone is considering three tune-up games in Doha to maximize their preparations.
“The basic thing is, we’re using this Doha trip as a chance to prepare — not just for this immediate window, because we’ve already qualified, but as preparation for the FIBA Asia Cup in August,” said Cone.
“We’re not a hundred-percent sure how many preparation days we’ll have in August, so this Doha trip will be an opportunity to reintegrate previously injured players like AJ Edu and Jamie Malonzo and to learn how to adjust without our key guy, Kai Sotto,” he added.
The winningest PBA tactician also stated that the Qatar games would not have been approved for the team if Gilas had not secured their qualifying for the Asia Cup, which they were fortunate to do.
“To be honest, if we weren’t already qualified, we wouldn’t be going to Doha. We would instead be focusing entirely on beating Chinese Taipei and New Zealand,” the Ginebra coach stated.
“We understand that traveling from Doha to Taipei to New Zealand in a matter of days will be tough, but the tougher, the better — it helps us prepare,” he went on to say.
Adjustments to Make
With the 7-foot-3 Kai Sotto out for an extended amount of time due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) suffered in the Japan B.League, which has since been properly repaired, Gilas awaits adjustments.
Aside from that, experienced national team member Troy Rosario will miss the trip due to a swollen knee suffered during the PBA playoffs for Barangay Ginebra this week.
“Kaya kami sumali, part of the training na rin for Chinese Taipei and New Zealand, especially now that Kai won’t be able to play,” said Alfrancis Chua, the Gilas Pilipinas Program Director and Team Manager.
“Instead of practicing here, mas magandang experience na rin doon. At least, magkakaroon sila ng teamwork at mapapalaban kami. Also, mabibigyan ng bigger role yung ibang malalaki since wala nga si Kai. At the same time, makakasama rin nila si AJ Edu,” he added.
Gilas is currently ranked 34th in the world according to FIBA. They will play No. 92 Qatar on February 15 at 1:30 AM, No. 29 Lebanon on February 15 at 11:00 PM, and No. 38 Egypt on February 17 at 1:30 AM (Philippine time).
