Gilas Pilipinas will get again collectively for the FIBA Asia Cup with hopes of a deep run after a disappointing exit within the earlier version
MANILA, Philippines – Gilas Pilipinas vies for continental glory because it plunges again to motion within the FIBA Asia Cup set to run from August 5 to 17 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
5 months since they final performed, the Nationals get again along with hopes of doing higher after a disappointing exit within the earlier version.
Listed below are quick info in regards to the Philippines’ participation within the Asia Cup:
Rejigged lineup
So much has modified in three years as Gilas Pilipinas includes a utterly totally different lineup in comparison with its 2022 squad.
Solely Kevin Quiambao, Carl Tamayo, and RJ Abarrientos stay from that staff, which completed ninth with Chot Reyes as head coach.
Quiambao and Tamayo have been nationwide staff mainstays since Tim Cone took over as head coach, whereas Abarrientos obtained the call-up after spending a whole PBA season beneath the multi-titled mentor at Barangay Ginebra.
One other main change is the presence of a naturalized participant.
That 2022 crew performed with no naturalized participant, however the staff that may play in Jeddah is bolstered by Justin Brownlee, who is predicted to hold many of the offensive load, with Kai Sotto nonetheless sidelined to recuperate from a knee damage.
Brownlee averaged 21.7 factors, 7.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.7 steals within the Asia Cup Qualifiers, the place the Philippines positioned second in Group B with a 4-2 document.
Right here is the present 14-man pool:
- Justin Brownlee
- June Mar Fajardo
- Dwight Ramos
- Scottie Thompson
- Chris Newsome
- Calvin Oftana
- CJ Perez
- Carl Tamayo
- Kevin Quiambao
- AJ Edu
- Japeth Aguilar
- Jamie Malonzo
- Troy Rosario
- RJ Abarrientos
No relaxation for the weary
Basketball by no means stops for June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, and Calvin Oftana, who barely get any relaxation after seeing motion within the PBA Philippine Cup finals that concluded simply final Friday, July 25.
The trio all performed heavy minutes within the best-of-seven sequence, which noticed San Miguel seize the championship in six video games and forestall TNT from becoming a member of the elite Grand Slam membership.
Fajardo averaged 21.3 factors, 12.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.2 blocks, whereas Perez produced 14.0 factors, 5.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.8 steals — the 2 getting essentially the most enjoying time for the Beermen with 37 and half-hour, respectively.
In the meantime, Oftana led all gamers within the finals in minutes performed as he noticed motion for practically 40 minutes each sport, placing up 15.7 factors, 7.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.5 steals.
Other than not having sufficient relaxation, Fajardo and Oftana additionally must handle their accidents as they reunite with the nationwide staff.
Fajardo endured a calf damage, whereas Oftana performed by way of an ankle sprain, a calf pressure, and a groin pressure.
It’s now as much as Cone to handle their minutes because the Nationals’ Asia Cup preparations intensify with tuneup video games in opposition to the Macau Black Bears on Monday, July 28, on the Araneta Coliseum and the Jordan nationwide staff in Jeddah on August 2.
Redemption season
After Cone led the Philippines to a historic gold medal within the 2023 Asian Video games, expectations of him main the staff to a deep Asia Cup run are excessive.
Gilas Pilipinas, in spite of everything, has nowhere to go however up after an underwhelming marketing campaign in 2022 which noticed the staff miss the quarterfinals for the primary time in 15 years.
In that version, the Filipinos ended the group stage with 1-2 document then crashed out of rivalry after a 102-81 beating from Japan within the crossover playoff for a prime eight spot.
Following its latest success, which included a semifinal stint within the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Event in 2014, the Philippines seeks a return to the rostrum within the Asia Cup, which it final achieved when it completed runner-up within the 2013 and 2015 tournaments.
The Philippines truly ranks second for many Asia Cup titles behind 16-time champion China because it received the continental showdown 5 instances on prime of 4 silvers and one bronze.
Standing in Gilas Pilipinas’ manner in Group D are New Zealand, Chinese language Taipei, and Iraq, with solely the No. 1 staff advancing on to the quarterfinals.
In the meantime, the No. 2 and three squads will struggle for a top-eight berth by way of the crossover playoff.
The remainder of the Asia Cup area embrace defending champion Australia, Lebanon, South Korea, and Qatar of Group A, Japan, Iran, Syria, and Guam of Group B, and China, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and India of Group C. – Rappler.com
