Gilas kicks off hectic schedule with training camp at Inspire
At A Glance
- Gilas Pilipinas has formally begun its preparations for the third and final window of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 qualifiers, convening for a brief training camp at the Inspire Sports Academy on Feb. 11 and 12 before flying to Doha, Qatar on Feb. 13.
Gilas Pilipinas has formally begun its preparations for the third and final window of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 qualifiers, convening for a brief training camp at the Inspire Sports Academy on Feb. 11 and 12 before flying to Doha, Qatar on Feb. 13.
Overseas players AJ Edu, Kevin Quiambao and Dwight Ramos already arrived in the country Monday night, joining PBA stars Scottie Thompson, Calvin Oftana, Jamie Malonzo, June Mar Fajardo, and CJ Perez for the two-day practice.
Ginebra’s RJ Abarrientos and Ralph Cu were also present at the camp to provide warm bodies for the Nationals, who will be resting Justin Browlee. Japeth Aguilar was also already ruled out for the Doha trip due to personal matters.
However, Gilas team manager Alfrancis Chua clarified that Abarrientos and Cu are not part of the team and will only be joining the Inspire camp largely due to their familiarity to the Cone’s system and the Nationals missing some of their players.
Still questionable to join training is Troy Rosario who suffered a swollen knee during the Kings’ recently-concluded quarterfinals series against the Meralco Bolts.
Chris Newsome and Carl Tamayo are also not available for the Laguna camp although they are assured to join the team in Doha.
Tamayo is flying directly from Korea to Qatar while Newsome will be coming from Taiwan where his Bolts are still to play an EASL game against New Taipei Kings on Wednesday, Feb 12.
The Laguna training camp is just the start of the hectic schedule for the Nationals in the lead up to the road games against Chinese Taipei on the 20th and New Zealand on the 23rd.
Gilas is set to play Qatar at 1:30 a.m. on Feb. 15 and then Lebanon later that night at 11 p.m. before wrapping up the friendlies against Egypt at 1:30 a.m. on Feb. 17 (all Manila time).
“Ang mangyayari 13, 14, 15, 16, (training camp) and 17 uwi kami ng gabi. And then alis na ulit ng umaga (18) for Taiwan,” said Chua who opted to have the team return to Manila first, instead of getting a direct flight from Doha to Taipei.
Such a setup, according to Chua, will still get Gilas some time to practice before playing Chinese Taipei.
“Kung di-diretsuhin namin, meron kaming four or five hours na layover sa Hong Kong, darating kami ng Taiwan gabi na kaya hindi na kami makakapag-ensayo," explained Chua.
“Sabi ko gawin natin umuwi tayo ng gabi para yung mga maduduming damit maiwan na nila, and then makakuha sila ng panibago (damit), and then alis ulit ng umaga para darating kami dun ng tanghali, makapag-pahinga ng saglit, and then makapag-ensayo kami before the game against Taipei," he added.