Gilas Pilipinas’ preparations for the FIBA Asia Cup in August begins early as it plays a set of friendly games as part of its training camp in Doha, Qatar starting on February 13.
The Nationals will play Qatar, Lebanon, and Egypt in a series of tuneup matches before wrapping up the Asia Cup Qualifiers with a pair of away games against Chinese Taipei and New Zealand on February 20 and 23, respectively.
An early entry to Asia Cup following a 4-0 sweep in the first two windows of the qualifiers allowed the team to hold its Doha trip as it prepares for life without Kai Sotto.
The 7-foot-3 Sotto will miss significant time after undergoing knee surgery for a torn left anterior cruciate ligament he sustained in the Japan B. League.
But as it lost one of its best players, the squad will welcome back AJ Edu and Jamie Malonzo as they return from their respective injuries.
“The basic thing is, we’re using this Doha trip as a chance to prepare, not for this immediate window because we have already qualified, but as a preparation for the FIBA Asia Cup in August,” said head coach Tim Cone.
“We’re not 100% sure of how many preparation days we’ll have in August, 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.”
Expected to fill the void left by Sotto, the 6-foot-10 Edu suits up for Gilas Pilipinas for the first time since the 2023 FIBA World Cup as he missed the first two windows of the Asia Cup Qualifiers and the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in July due to a pair of knee injuries.
Meanwhile, Malonzo reunites with the national team after a calf injury he suffered in April kept him out for the previous months.
“Instead of practicing here, they’ll get better experience there. At least, they’ll develop their teamwork and we’ll be challenged,” said team manager Alfrancis Chua of the Doha training camp. “Also, the other bigs will be given a bigger role since Kai is out. At the same time, they’ll be with AJ Edu.”
The Philippines tangles with Qatar at 1:30 am on February 15, Lebanon at 11 pm on February 15, and Egypt at 1:30 am on February 17 (all in Manila time) before it turns its focus on Chinese Taipei and New Zealand.
Although already qualified, the Nationals still seek to complete their unbeaten run as they aim to build momentum for their redemption campaign in the Asia Cup, where they finished ninth in the previous edition.
