WITH the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup fast approaching, Gilas Pilipinas intensifies its preparation for the tournament, set from Aug. 16 to 28 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Led by coach Tim Cone, the team is building chemistry through practices in Pasig and a focused camp in Clark, Pampanga. 

Instead of multiple exhibition games, the team has focused on system discipline, even with the short preparation time and scheduling difficulties with the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Finals. A single tune-up against the Macau Black Bears served as their final on-court test before facing tough Group D opponents—New Zealand, Chinese Taipei, and Iraq—in a format where only the top team advances directly to the quarterfinals.

In a media interview last July 10, Coach Cone highlighted that several of his players are coming off a demanding PBA Philippine Cup season, highlighting Ginebra San Miguel’s Scottie Thompson, RJ Abarrientos, Jamie Malonzo, and Japeth Aguilar as key examples.

During the Adidas and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) partnership launch held at the Monarch Manila in Makati, Coach Cone remarked on the challenges faced. “I think the biggest issue we have right now is we got a lot of players who are just finishing a really, really long season. And for our (Ginebra), it’s a seven-game series, so they’re really worn out,” he said.

The team roster features a mix of veterans and young emerging talent ready to represent the flag: Justin Brownlee returns from injury after being flanked by strong players like June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Japeth Aguilar, and Scottie Thompson. Rising stars such as Dwight Ramos, Carl Tamayo, AJ Edu, and Kevin Quiambao will also join the team in the international court. At the same time, reliable contributors like Calvin Oftana, Chris Newsome, and Mason Amos round out a versatile lineup. Kai Sotto remains sidelined due to injury, and Zav Lucero’s eligibility is still pending, adding another layer of uncertainty to an already challenging road ahead for the Gilas Pilipinas. 

But beyond strategy and matchups, what truly drives Gilas is something deeper–Filipino pride. From the cheers that echo across the world to the watch parties hosted by overseas Filipinos, support for the national team transforms basketball into a shared cultural heartbeat. Every time Gilas steps onto the court, they don’t just represent the Philippines—they embody its spirit, resilience, and unity. 

 It’s this unwavering support, loudness and passion, that continues to lift the team and remind the world that they are the ones to look out for. 

         Gilas Pilipinas is set to ignite its campaign at the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup, which runs from Aug. 5 to 17 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The national team opens its Group D journey against Chinese Taipei on August 6 at 2:00 a.m. (PHL time), followed by a game against New Zealand on August 7 at 11:00 p.m., and wraps up the group stage against Iraq on Aug. 9 at 4:00 p.m. Fans eager to witness the action can tune in live via One Sports, One Sports+, PBA Rush, RPTV, and the Pilipinas Live app, with catch-up broadcasts available on One Sports and RPTV.