FILE–Gilas Pilipinas in the 2025 Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers.–FIBA PHOTO
Gilas Pilipinas is scheduled to face Macau Black Bears in a tune-up match on July 28 as part of its preparation for the Fiba Asia Cup 2025.
Amid a short preparation window for the continental meet, SBP wanted one last game to send off the Philippine men’s basketball team before it flies to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
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The Fiba Asia Cup, where the Filipinos face New Zealand, Chinese Taipei and Iraq in the first round, is set for August 7 to 17.
“Playing tuneup games before Gilas dives into the Fiba Asia Cup will only help the team out,” said Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas President Al Panlilio.
“It’s a short preparation window as many of our players saw action in the semifinals of the Philippine Cup, which was another reason why the SBP wanted Gilas to have a tuneup game here.”
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The tune-up game will be available to watch for fans, something that has been sort of a tradition for Gilas Pilipinas since Tim Cone took over the coaching post.
“While the team gets good competition, it’s also an opportunity for our Gilas fans to band together and send their team off before they fly out to Saudi Arabia,” Panlilio said.”
Macau, which features a roster locals, mixed heritage players and imports, previously beat the Chinese men’s national team, making them a perfect team for a tune-up match.
“They beat the Chinese national team. They are really strong. They’ve got good imports. It could be a very interesting friendly for us,” Cone said of Macau.
The Macau Black Bears were founded in 2017, then competing under the name Chong Son Kung Fu and playing in the ASEAN Basketball League. They now compete in the East Asia Super League and in The Asian Tournament led by head coach Garrrett Kelly.
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Gilas Pilipinas looks to unleash full lineup against the Black Bears but without Kai Sotto, who is still recovering from his ACL injury.
