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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Training intensifies as Gilas settles in Jeddah

Training intensifies as Gilas settles in Jeddah

Published Aug 2, 2025 03:45 pm

At A Glance

  • Gilas Pilipinas has shifted its preparations to a higher gear right after landing in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for the 2025 FIBA Asia, especially in getting the players in top shape and acclimated to the weather and the time zone.
Gilas Pilipinas doubles down its preparations ahead of the 2025 FIBA Asia. (SBP)
Gilas Pilipinas doubles down its preparations ahead of the 2025 FIBA Asia. (SBP)
Gilas Pilipinas has shifted its preparations to a higher gear right after landing in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for the 2025 FIBA Asia, especially in getting the players in top shape and acclimated to the weather and the time zone.
National team head coach Tim Cone said Gilas is making the practice hard as they enter the final stretch of their buildup before the continental tiff formally fires off on Aug. 5.
“We want to make it as hard as we possibly can because once we figured that it's gonna be hard, everything else is gonna be easy afterwards so we were really intended to make it as hard as we could,” said in an update provided by One Sports and shared through the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Facebook page.
“It was incredibly hard but now we realized getting here early adjusting to the time, adjusting to the weather, getting time to practice is really important for us and we feel like we feel a lot better of ourselves and I think that it will show up in the games,” added the veteran mentor.
Gilas has now two days worth of practice under its belt right after landing the oil-rich country last Wednesday, July 30, and there were some encouraging signs as well when it comes to its players who are still nursing injuries.
Calvin Oftana participated the last two days of practice, playing like he is not bothered by the ankle and groin injuries he sustained during TNT’s run in the Philippine Cup.
June Mar Fajardo, on the other hand, skipped the first day of practice but has finally joined the team in scrimmages on the second day as he looks forward to finally participating in the full practice sessions in the remaining days.
”He looks really good. He's jumping well. He’s moving well. So we are pleased to have him. We need a guy who is a light out shooter that the other teams need to worry about,” Cone said of his assessment of Oftana.
“Si June Mar, very nice guy. He knows his obligation. Kahapon di siya nag ensayo kinausap ko sya, sabi ko ‘okay ka na ba?’ Sabi niya, 'okay na ako.' Pinagpahinga ko lang so iba yung dedication ng tao at alam nya na kailangan siya ng team, kailangan siya ng Gilas, “  said Gilas team manager and project director Alfrancis Chua.
“Okay naman day by day. Yung tightness na lang, sana maka-full practice na ako and then magtuluy-tuloy na,” said Fajardo.
With Gilas seeing action on Aug.5 in Jeddah (early dawn of Aug. 6, Philippine time), they have practically around three days left to wrap up their training.
The Nationals will take on Chinese Taipei first, before facing up against New Zealand on the next day. It then wraps up its group stage assignment against Iraq on Aug. 9 (PH time.)
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