Excited for their second window match of 2025 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers, Gilas Pilipinas received an intense practice match against the Meralco Bolts on Tuesday, November 19, at Inspire Sports Academy, Calamba Laguna. The triumph was a confidence builder for the national squad as well as a dress rehearsal for head coach Tim Cone’s 15-man pool.
Cone admitted the recent game against the Meralco Bolts was not purely a practice match but gave him a view of the fitness, form, and interactions of his players. Experience paid off for Gilas as the three main players showed their preparedness leading Gilas to a comfortable victory by double digits.
However, not all players were in action. Third-string center AJ Edu is out with a knee injury, while forward Calvin Oftana and Jamie Malonzo were also not able to play. These were, however, missing in the game, which gave Cone some important insights nonetheless.
“The camp went well. We didn’t play as well as we would have liked in our practice game against Meralco, but the game was a much-needed preparation tool for us, and we thank Meralco for helping us. Kai has passed his concussion protocols and played, but AJ Edu and Jamie Malonzo are still out,” Cone shared with reporters.
The tune-up game also marked the late arrivals of key players, with Brownlee recovering from a stomach flu and Carl Tamayo joining the camp from South Korea.
Gilas Pilipinas beat Meralco, 96-82, last Monday in the Nationals' lone tune-up match ahead of the FIBA Asia Cup Window 2 qualifying games vs New Zealand and Hong Kong. | @sonrdINQ pic.twitter.com/SA9AUPOaSj
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) November 19, 2024
Meralco Bolts head coach Luigi Trillo acknowledged Gilas Pilipinas’ strong performance, commending the team’s progress despite limited preparation time.
“They look like they are getting sharp. I like what I see. I am very impressed with Kai Sotto. Their starters played well, particularly Justin Brownlee, Dwight Ramos, and Kai Sotto. They led by as much as 16. We tied it twice. The new guys struggled a bit, but that is expected,” Trillo noted.
The game was an ideal litmus test for the Gilas squad, highlighting areas for improvement while also showcasing their strengths against a professional PBA team.
The spotlight is now on the game against New Zealand scheduled on Thursday, November 21 at the Mall of Asia Arena. Prior to this game, New Zealand has always triumphed against Gilas Pilipinas in FIBA games with a series standing of 4-0 and an average victory of twenty-four points and three minutes.
However, as we are aware of the fact that, Gilas has produced an excellent performance in the previous games THANKS TO THE NEW SPIRIT. From the first window of the qualifiers, dominant wins against Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei place the team on a similarly favorable standing. Both teams are now perched at the top of this group with a 2-0 record, making them joint leaders of Group A with New Zealand.
Key Statistics from the First Window:
A win against New Zealand would not only be historic but also put the Philippines in a strong position to qualify for the continental tournament in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, next year.
According to FIBA Asia, the qualification pathway is straightforward:
The stakes are high, and every game counts. After facing New Zealand, Gilas will take on Hong Kong on Sunday, November 24, also at the Mall of Asia Arena.
It is a boost for the national team that Kai Sotto, who has only recently recovered from concussion, is part of the team. Again, Sotto has been too much for the opponents, as he averaged a double-double during the first window of the qualifiers. Their chemistry with the naturalized player Justin Brownlee and other Gilas Kanibas will be vital to New Zealand’s physical and stifling defense.
“Kai’s return is a game-changer for us. He adds an inside presence that is difficult to match,” Cone remarked.
As the second window of the final Fiba Asia World Qualifier in November approaches, the feeling towards Gilas Pilipinas is up again. The win against the Meralco Bolts has placed the Philippine team in an advantageous position as they head to what is expected to be a spirited and spirited season in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.
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