Gilas Pilipinas is getting the formidable challenge that it certainly needs when it heads to Doha as part of its preparations for the third and final window of the FIBA 2025 Asia Cup qualifiers in February. 

The Nationals are set to play Qatar, Lebanon and Egypt in the 2nd Doha Invitational Cup, a four-nation friendly tournament organized by the Qatar Basketball Federation from Feb. 14 to 16.

The federation already announced the schedule of the games which will happen at the Qatar University.

Gilas is facing the hosts first in the opening day of the tournament and then takes on Lebanon the next day before wrapping up the schedule against Egypt.

The Filipinos are set to leave on Feb. 13 with head coach Tim Cone expected to bring in his lean pool for the buildup with Troy Rosario making his return to the national team to provide size and depth at the frontline after young guns Kai Sotto and Kevin Quiambao sustained injuries.

Naturalized player Ange Kouame is also expected to join the trip to give an added body to the team that will be missing Japeth Aguilar for the training camp.

Cone, though, assured that the veteran big man would be joining the team for its road games against Chinese Taipei and New Zealand.

Mainstays Justin Brownlee, Scottie Thompson, June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Dwight Ramos, Carl Tamayo, Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, Mason Amos, and returning AJ Edu and Jamie Malonzo are all expected to be present in the camp.

Cone is hoping that the friendly games would be enough to prepare his wards to the tough games especially with both Chinese Taipei and New Zealand surely raring to get back on the Filipinos who remain as the only team undefeated in their group.