MANILA, Philippines – In keeping with their rigorous schedule that leaves little time for recuperation, Gilas Pilipinas left for Chinese Taipei on Tuesday afternoon to play in the final leg of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers. After competing in the 2nd Doha Invitational Cup in Qatar, the team had only returned to Manila on Monday night before leaving again.

The team is nevertheless committed to finishing the qualifications strongly in spite of the short turnaround. The national squad, which finished with a 1-2 record in Doha after losing back-to-back games against Egypt and Lebanon, is keen to improve in Chinese Taipei.

The return of experienced big man Japeth Aguilar, who was absent from the Doha tournament, is a huge boost for Gilas. As the team gets ready to play Chinese Taipei on February 20, Aguilar’s background and presence in the paint will be vital. A seasoned player who is currently a member of Tim Cone’s coaching staff, LA Tenorio, also returned to the club for the trip, contributing more strategic expertise and leadership.

The team will hold practice sessions in Taiwan to hone their preparations before their showdown against the Taiwanese national squad, team manager Alfrancis Chua stressed the significance of sticking to the strict schedule. “We must adhere to a rigorous schedule. We have to make adjustments and get ready for the next games, so there can be no delays,” Chua said.

Gilas Pilipinas is still focused on completing the qualifiers with a perfect record even though they have already guaranteed their place in the actual FIBA Asia Cup event, which is scheduled for August. The Philippines, who are currently leading Group B with a perfect 4-0 record, will try to continue their winning streak when they play Chinese Taipei, who have a 1-3 record in the group standings.

A crucial warm-up for the forthcoming game in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where the team will take on more challenging opponents, is also provided by the last qualifying window. In addition to being a competition, the coaching staff sees these qualifiers as an essential chance to assess team dynamics and player performance before the main tournament.

Gilas will travel to Auckland, New Zealand, to play the Tall Blacks on February 23 after their match in Chinese Taipei. The rematch versus New Zealand, who are now 3-1 in Group B, is expected to be a difficult match. New Zealand is anticipated to arrive ready to level the score after the Philippines narrowly prevailed in their opening encounter.

AJ Edu, Scottie Thompson, Dwight Ramos, CJ Perez, Chris Newsome, Carl Tamayo, Calvin Oftana, Kevin Quiambao, Mason Amos, Troy Rosario, Jamie Malonzo, and naturalized player Justin Brownlee make up the roster that head coach Tim Cone will use because it is adaptable. The team’s frontcourt is strengthened by Aguilar’s return, who adds size and a presence to block shots.

The players and the coaching staff—which consists of Patrick Partosa, Sean Chambers, Josh Reyes, Richard Del Rosario, and Jong Uichico—have been collaborating closely to improve tactics and fix flaws that were discovered during the Doha tournament. From defense to offensive tactics, Cone’s skilled staff of assistants makes sure that every facet of the game is covered.

The Gilas delegation is supported by important members of the Philippine basketball community in addition to the coaching staff. The team is being accompanied by PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial, demonstrating the complete support of the nation’s basketball governing body. As the Gilas program’s project director and team manager, Alfrancis Chua is actively involved in managing the squad’s requirements and making sure that everything runs smoothly during the campaign.

Chua expressed faith in the group’s capacity to deliver in spite of the rigorous timeline. “Our athletes are experts in their fields. They are prepared to endure exhaustion in order to give it their all on the court because they understand how important it is to represent the nation,” he remarked.

Gilas Pilipinas is committed to keeping up their momentum going into the FIBA Asia Cup, with their sights set on finishing the qualifiers strongly. In addition to boosting the team’s confidence, maintaining an undefeated record in Group B will help cement its place among Asia’s basketball powerhouses.