By REYNALD MAGALLON
Gilas Pilipinas is getting a first look at the product of its preparations so far for the FIBA 2025 Asia Cup when it takes on the Macau Black Bears in a send-off game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Monday, July 28.
The Nationals are coming off a short training camp in Pampanga and they will get their first real game to test their readiness for the continental tiff against the Black Bears in the 7:30 p.m. affair.
Gilas, of course, is still without Kai Sotto, who is still recovering from a knee injury, while players like June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez and Calvin Oftana, all of whom saw action in the recently concluded Philippine Cup Finals are unlikely to participate in the friendly.
Expected to banner Gilas, of course, is the now fit-again Justin Brownlee along with his Ginebra teammates Japeth Aguilar, Scottie Thompson, Jamie Malonzo and new Gilas additions RJ Abarrientos and Troy Rosario.
Also attending the practices were Chris Newsome, Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, Carl Tamayo and Kevin Quiambao, who went straight to Gilas training after arriving from his US trip where he participated in several NBA training camps.
The game against Macau is exactly the challenge the team needs according to head coach Tim Cone, especially since the Black Bears are a proven formidable team having beaten the Chinese national team in the past.
“They played the Chinese national team and beat them so they are a tough team. We know that and we wanted to have someone tough to play before we leave,” Cone said of the Black Bears, who boosted its lineup with the addition of University of the Philippines standout Quentin Millora-Brown.
The Black Bears are coming off a championship in the Shanxi Leg of The Asian Tournament where the team was spearheaded by leg MVP Omari Peek-Green and Will Douglas, who fired 32 points in the Final game against the Guangzhou Loong Lions.
But aside from getting the much-needed challenge ahead of the Asia Cup, Cone also highlighted the importance of getting the chance to play in front of the Filipino fans.
“We want to play in front of the fans before we go. I think it’s important to play and get that feeling from the fans, how we are important to them and get the chance to showcase to them,” said Cone.
“They don’t get to see the team live often so it’s important to at least play one friendly against somebody to showcase to the public,” added the veteran tactician whose Gilas team has developed a habit of playing one exhibition game for the fans before their overseas tournaments.
Gilas is expected to fly to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia by the 30th and then play a couple more friendlies – one against Jordan – before the formal opening of the tournament on Aug. 5.
