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Gilas Pilipinas To Stay Home For FIBA Asia Cup Prep - No Overseas Tune-Ups, Says SBP
Photo credit: SBP
Instead of flying out for tune-up games abroad, the national men’s basketball team will be doing all their preparations for the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup right here at home. According to Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) Executive Director Erika Dy, national coach Tim Cone has decided not to schedule any friendlies overseas leading up to the tournament in Saudi Arabia.
“Sa ngayon, he has decided not to compete in friendly tournaments outside of the country,” Dy shared. “We will be training here as a team and we’ll probably leave around August 1 or August 2 to acclimatize ourselves in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.”
The FIBA Asia Cup is set to run from August 5 to 17, and with the PBA Philippine Cup possibly stretching to a Game 7 on July 27, the prep time for Gilas is already looking tight.
“July 27 to August 5 is the window of Coach Tim Cone to prepare,” Dy pointed out. That’s less than ten days to get the squad locked in before they fly out.
But fans might still get a chance to see Gilas in action before they head to the Middle East. Dy said they’re planning a local exhibition game — sort of a sendoff match — which could be the only time the team hits the court publicly before the tournament kicks off.
“We’ll probably play an exhibition game here para sendoff na rin sa mga fans. It will be nice for fans to see Gilas play,” Dy said. “And then when we get to Jeddah, we will probably play one of the teams who will come earlier.”
Gilas is grouped in Group D at the Asia Cup alongside Chinese Taipei, New Zealand, and Iraq. With little prep time and no overseas friendlies, Coach Cone and company will need to make every practice session count.
Let’s hope this tight but focused setup brings out the best in Gilas — and gives us something to cheer about come August.
“Sa ngayon, he has decided not to compete in friendly tournaments outside of the country,” Dy shared. “We will be training here as a team and we’ll probably leave around August 1 or August 2 to acclimatize ourselves in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.”
The FIBA Asia Cup is set to run from August 5 to 17, and with the PBA Philippine Cup possibly stretching to a Game 7 on July 27, the prep time for Gilas is already looking tight.
“July 27 to August 5 is the window of Coach Tim Cone to prepare,” Dy pointed out. That’s less than ten days to get the squad locked in before they fly out.
But fans might still get a chance to see Gilas in action before they head to the Middle East. Dy said they’re planning a local exhibition game — sort of a sendoff match — which could be the only time the team hits the court publicly before the tournament kicks off.
“We’ll probably play an exhibition game here para sendoff na rin sa mga fans. It will be nice for fans to see Gilas play,” Dy said. “And then when we get to Jeddah, we will probably play one of the teams who will come earlier.”
Gilas is grouped in Group D at the Asia Cup alongside Chinese Taipei, New Zealand, and Iraq. With little prep time and no overseas friendlies, Coach Cone and company will need to make every practice session count.
Let’s hope this tight but focused setup brings out the best in Gilas — and gives us something to cheer about come August.
May 21, 2025
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