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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Gilas faces vengeful, desperate Chinese Taipei

Gilas faces vengeful, desperate Chinese Taipei

Published Feb 19, 2025 07:09 am

At A Glance

  • Gilas Pilipinas is set to face a vengeful Chinese Taipei team at its home court for its first game in the third and final window of the FIBA 2025 Asia Cup Qualifiers on Thursday, Feb. 20.

Gilas Pilipinas is set to face a vengeful Chinese Taipei team at its home court for its first game in the third and final window of the FIBA 2025 Asia Cup Qualifiers on Thursday, Feb. 20.

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The Nationals begin life without injured big man Kai Sotto while the Taiwanese parade a retooled roster led by new naturalized player Brandon Gilbeck and new player Mohammad Al Bachir Gadiaga in the 7 p.m. affair (Manila time) at the Taipei Heping Gymnasium.

The two players were not part of the team when Gilas demolished Chinese Taipei, 106-53, behind Sotto’s 18-point, 10-rebound effort at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City last year.

Gadiaga is averaging 16 points while Gilbeck has 11.5 points and 8.5 rebounds through their two games with the team and they are expected to carry the fight for the hosts especially that they are fighting for survival in the contest.

Chinese Taipei is in dire need of victory to assure itself the third seed in Group B and get a shot at securing a ticket to the FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in August through a qualifying tournament.

With that motivation, along with the expected huge crowd rallying behind the world No. 76 team, head coach Tim Cone and the rest of Gilas are wary of the hostile environment – something they hoped to have themselves get accustomed to when they went for a series of friendly games in Doha, Qatar.

For the part of Gilas though, it's virtually non-bearing as they already secured a ticket to the main event, although Cone has repeatedly emphasized the need for winning games while still improving the team chemistry.

For one, two players in the original 12, who Cone named to the team, are making their official roster. 

AJ Edu missed the entirety of Gilas’ campaign last year due to a knee injury and will now have the big task of filling in the shoes of Sotto, along with other frontliners in June Mar Fajardo and Japeth Aguilar.

Jamie Malonzo is also expected to suit up, joining Justin Brownlee, Kevin Quiambao, Carl Tamayo, Calvin Oftana, and Mason Amos at the wings while Scottie Thompson, Chris Newsome, Dwight Ramos, and CJ Perez comprising the backcourt. 

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