Gilas Pilipinas is not leaving any stones unturned in its preparation for the final window of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers where the Philippines plays two away games in February.
The Filipinos are scheduled to leave for Doha on Feb. 13 to join the four-nation 2nd International Friendly Basketball Championship in Qatar.
The friendly tournament will feature host nation Qatar, Egypt, Lebanon and the Philippines from Feb. 14 to 16.
Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone confirmed the national squad's participation in Doha.
"Yes, we will use that as our preparation for the FIBA window," Cone told the Manila Times on Thursday.
The American coach said with the Gilas Pilipinas training pool orphaned by the absence of young big man Kai Sotto, who tore his ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) in a Japan B.League game last December, they are bringing along Barangay Ginebra forward Troy Rosario to the Qatar games.
"He has great versatility and has the strength to guard bigger players," Cone said, in describing what the 6-foot-6 Rosario can bring to the Philippine team if ever he makes the final roster. "Plus his familiarity with the system should make for a seamless transition."
Rosario has been a regular fixture for Gilas Pilipinas for nearly a decade already, winning three gold medals in the Southeast Asian men's basketball.
However, his last national team stint in the SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam in 2022 ended with a disaster when the Philippines lost the precious gold to Indonesia.
Cone hopes the friendly games will aid Gilas Pilipinas well as it prepares for the two away games.
The Philippines faces Taiwan on Feb. 20 followed by New Zealand on Feb. 23.
The Philippines looks to close the final window with victories, having swept the first four games in the two windows in 2024.
The Filipinos were merciless against the Taiwanese whom they obliterated, 106-53 during the February 2024 window at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Gilas Pilipinas also knocked down New Zealand, 93-89, in its home game last November, marking the first time the Philippines defeated the former Oceanian basketball powerhouse since 2016.
The national team will enjoy longer preparation for the last FIBA window as the PBA takes a breather from the Commissioner's Cup.
2025-01-23T10:55:06Z