Gilas tunes up in Doha before grudge match with Kiwis
Gilas Pilipinas flies to Doha, Qatar, next week in the first of many stages the National Five will undertake to become road worthy as they play out of the comforts of home—and the loud noise of their loyal fans—to prepare for the Fiba Asia Cup in Saudi Arabia in August.
Friendlies against Qatar, Lebanon and Egypt are up in Doha, where the next Fiba World Cup will be held. This pocket tournament will afford the Nationals a feel of what it’s like playing there since the World Cup carries a very valuable prize, a ticket to the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
Coach Time Cone will also get a chance to apply some tweaks to his player dynamics ahead of the Jeddah showcase—and just in time for the Nationals’ return bout with New Zealand—as two standouts who missed several tours last year will return while the squad awaits the full recovery of a grounded cornerstone.
“We’re not 100 percent sure of how many preparation days we’ll have in August (for the Fiba Asia Cup),” said Cone. “So this Doha trip will be a chance to integrate the previously injured guys, AJ Edu and Jamie Malonzo, and play games with them as well as learn to adjust to playing without our key guy, Kai Sotto.”
NZ’s A-Team
Sotto underwent surgery last Jan. 31 to fix a torn left knee ligament.
“He’ll be out for maybe a year. But he’s young, 22. If you’re going to have it, now’s the time,” Cone went on. “At that age, he can easily recover.”
The Philippines has secured its spot in the Asia Cup after sweeping its first four games in Group B of the qualifiers. But Gilas will still play two more games in order to cop top seeding in the group, one of them a grudge match against the Tall Blacks, who they nipped at Mall of Asia Arena last November.
The Kiwis will be sending their absolute A-Team in their bid for payback at home.
“I’m excited that a lot of guys that were unavailable in that November window have made themselves available,” New Zealand coach Judd Flavell said in a statement. “Every single hour is precious when it comes to these windows. While we’re excited and focused on getting these two results, we’re looking to build for the future as well.”
Troy Rosario has been tapped to balm Sotto’s absence. La Salle forward and program reserve Mason Amos will be coming in to relieve many-time skipper Japeth Aguilar, who needs to tend to “personal obligations.”
“Instead of practicing here, we felt that it would be better getting experience there,” said Alfrancis Chua, the San Miguel Corp. sports director who reprises his role as team manager. “(There), they’ll manufacture teamwork. Bigger roles will be given to the other big players since Kai is out.”
“The ultimate goal is to get top seed out of our pool so that we position ourselves in the best pool when it comes to the Asia Cup in August,” Flavell added. “So we need to win both games. That’s the job we have in front of us.”
