John Franklin Kennedy Caacbay

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Gilas Pilipinas battles with New Zealand in the  FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers in Pasay City on November 21, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

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FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil" style="width:900px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/173893941610920241121-fiba-gilas-newzealand-MQD_0560-MD.jpg" style="width:900px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/file</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA, Philippines -- Gilas Pilipinas will fly to Doha, Qatar, on February 13 for a series of friendlies before facing Chinese Taipei and New Zealand on the road in Window 3 of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.</p><p>The Philippines has already booked passage to the 2025 quadrennial event in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia this August on the strength of its 4-0 record in Group B.</p><p>Coach Tim Cone is looking at the three tune-up games in Doha, which will host the 20th FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2027, and the away games against Chinese Taipei on February 20 and the Tall Blacks on February 23, as overall preparation for the big tournament six months from now.</p><p>“The basic thing is, we&#x27;re using this Doha trip as a chance to prepare, not for this immediate window because we have already qualified, but as a preparation for the FIBA Asia in August,” Cone said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/1/29/after-acl-tear-kai-sotto-expected-to-go-under-the-knife-on-feb-1-says-cone-0144"><strong>READ: FIBA: After ACL tear, Kai Sotto expected to go under the knife on Feb 1, says Cone<br/></strong></a></div><p>“We&#x27;re not 100 percent sure of how many preparation days we&#x27;ll have in August, so this Doha trip will be a chance to integrate the previously injured guys, AJ Edu and Jamie Malonzo, and play games with them, as well as learn to adjust to playing without our key guy, Kai Sotto.”</p><p>Cone said the Qatar games got the green light only because of one reason.</p><p>“To be honest, if we were not already qualified, we would not be going to Doha. We would instead take that time to really focus on beating Chinese Taipei and NZ. We understand the travel will be tough going from Doha to Taipei to New Zealand in a matter of days, but the tougher the better as we prepare.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0CtKO55Mwvc??si=mJnAo2RlBI4kE6z_&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>"[T]his Doha trip will be a chance to integrate the previously injured guys, AJ Edu and Jamie Malonzo, and play games with them, as well as learn to adjust to playing without our key guy, Kai Sotto," said Gilas coach Tim Cone.</p>

"[T]his Doha trip will be a chance to integrate the previously injured guys, AJ Edu and Jamie Malonzo, and play games with them, as well as learn to adjust to playing without our key guy, Kai Sotto," said Gilas coach Tim Cone.

Doha games a chance to integrate Edu, Malonzo with Gilas – Cone

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Doha games a chance to integrate Edu, Malonzo with Gilas – Cone

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 07, 2025 11:13 PM PHT

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Jamie Malonzo

AJ Edu

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