Gilas Pilipinas’ Justin Brownlee during a game against Egypt within the Doha International Cup in Qatar.–QATAR BASKETBALL FEDERATION
Gilas Pilipinas was back on the road again on Tuesday, the squad looking surprisingly refreshed and stuffed with zest despite a pair of setbacks suffered in Qatar and going for back-to-back flights for the third and final window of the Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers.
“I’m excited—and I’m sure everybody else is, especially after losing prior to now two games in Doha,” naturalized ace Justin Brownlee said. “I’m sure everybody’s excited to get back on the court and get a win.”
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Already qualified for the flagship continental meet that shall be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in August, Team Philippines looks to maintain its pristine record with a repeat against Chinese Taipei in a return match slated this Thursday at 7 p.m. at Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium.
“It’s definitely tough. Three, 4 countries in only a matter of days?,” said comebacking center AJ Edu. “[But] at the tip of the day, it’s a blessing to travel and a blessing to give you the option to represent the country.”
The rematch against Chinese-Taipei may also afford a probability for this system to permit standouts—resembling barely-utilized Mason Amos, program returnee Troy Rosario and now-fit Jamie Malonzo—to get right into a groove right before taking up Latest Zealand in Auckland in a highly-anticipated grudge match on Sunday.
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“As tough because it was, the most important thing that I’ve got out of it—and despite the games not going our way—was the enjoyment of having the ability to play again for the country,” Edu added. “And all glory to God for that.”
Edu shall be playing his first official Gilas game since hurting his knee while fulfilling club duties in Japan. He last donned the Philippine tri-colors within the Fiba World Cup held in Manila back in 2023.
Most effective
The 6-foot-10 defensive whiz shall be put through the wringer with Kai Sotto out as a retooled Chinese squad is fielding its other naturalized ace, 7-foot Brandon Gilbeck.
A win by Gilas will improve its possibilities of tabbing an excellent seeing within the Jeddah meet where regional powerhouses like Japan and world No. 7 Australia await.
But more importantly, it’ll allow national coach Tim Cone to recalibrate this system’s roadmap with Sotto on the mend.
Gilas has been an awesome leader in efficiency throughout the Asia Cup qualifiers, its 134.3 rating beating out the likes of the Aussies (126.00), Lebanon (115.3) and old rival China (112). Unfortunately, much of that standing was built on the shoulders of Sotto, who was nothing in need of prolific in the primary two windows with a double-double average of 15.5 points and 12.5 rebounds.
Cone said in a previous interview that Sotto is out for not less than nine months, which virtually rules out the 7-foot-3 center not only for the Asia Cup, but additionally for other competitions this yr.
“Like I all the time say about injuries, it’s almost cruel to say it, but this has all the time been the philosophy: you’re feeling bad about injuries for 10 minutes, then you definately move on,” Cone had said. “Because there’s nothing you possibly can do about it.” INQ
