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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Gilas looking ready for Asia Cup after beating Jordan in tuneup

Gilas looking ready for Asia Cup after beating Jordan in tuneup

Published Aug 3, 2025 01:17 pm

At A Glance

  • Gilas Pilipinas seemed to be nearing its top form ahead of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup, taking down Jordan, 75-61, at the Al Ahli Sports Club in Jeddah in the wee hours of Sunday, Aug. 3 (Manila time).
Photo from Jordan Basketball Federation
Photo from Jordan Basketball Federation
Gilas Pilipinas seemed to be nearing its top form ahead of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup, taking down Jordan, 75-61, at the Al Ahli Sports Club in Jeddah in the wee hours of Sunday, Aug. 3 (Manila time).
Although not televised nor streamed, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas provided updates on the match that saw Dwight Ramos, Kevin Quiambao, Scottie Thompson and Calvin Oftana nail crucial triples to keep Jordan at bay in the final frame.
According to the federation, the Nationals started out strong and took a 40-29 lead at the half. The Falcons, however, made some headway in the third quarter and cut the deficit to just eight, 47-55, heading into the final 10 minutes.
In an earlier interview provided by One Sports and shared by the federation on its Facebook page, Gilas head coach Tim Cone said prior to the tuneup that it was looking at the game against Jordan as a gauge of the team’s readiness for the tournament.
“I was just looking for a measurement of where we are in terms of preparedness,” said Cone.
“I think that was really the key, just seeing how prepared we are. I don't think we are there yet but I think this game will go a long way in terms of helping us to get where we want to get to,” he added.
“More than coming out with a win and seeing how the team would fare against its continental rivals,” Cone added that the team was rather putting more emphasis on its own development and fine tuning.
“We were really looking at just the quality of our play, the quality of our execution, allowing the guys to make basketball plays and playing the heck out of the defense,” he added.
Still, it was an encouraging sign for the national team program to pull off such a win against Jordan – the same team it needed to beat to end a 61-year gold medal drought in the Asian Games in 2023.
For one, Jordan also placed fourth in the 2022 edition of the Asia Cup – only losing to New Zealand, 75-83 in the battle for third. In that contest, the Nationals wound up ninth – their worst finish in the continental tiff since 2007 where they also ended up on the same rank.
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