Romwel Anzures

Filipino fans supporting Gilas Pilipinas in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Photo from FIBA Basketball.

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<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1754895404426IMG_7981.webp" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Filipino fans supporting Gilas Pilipinas in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Photo from FIBA Basketball."/>Filipino fans supporting Gilas Pilipinas in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Photo from FIBA Basketball.Gilas Pilipinas is competing a thousand miles away from the Philippines in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup, but the Filipino fans in Jeddah are pumping much-needed life and energy to give them a virtual home-court advantage in each of its games.</div>Finally having won its first one in the continental meet, the Nationals are now a step closer to reaching the quarterfinals all thanks to their win last Saturday against Iraq at the King Abdullah Sports City in Saudi Arabia.But aside from Dwight Ramos who stepped up for the struggling Justin Brownlee, head coach Cone also credited their sixth man for elevating them despite their slow start vs. Iraq.“Our crowd really elevates our game,” the Barangay Ginebra mentor said. “When we start playing well and they start — you know, like Dwight hits a shot — they go crazy.”Ramos, who is averaging 18.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.3 steals in three games so far, sparked Gilas’ offense when they were struggling in the first half last Saturday.“[Dwight] comes down, hits another shot, they go crazier,” shared Cone, of how the Filipinos are playing their part. “So, you know, that really lifts the spirit that we have, and that&#x27;s something we just got.”However, the long-time Gin Kings head coach also understands the things that come with their fans’ support.“It&#x27;s two-pronged,” he said. “In other words, we also feel the pressure because we want to satisfy our crowd so much. They&#x27;re evident there.”The PBA’s winningest coach also added how that pressure possibly even affects their slow stars in each of their games so far.“Sometimes, we get a little tight and don&#x27;t play as free and easy,” he said. We&#x27;ve got to kind of learn how to get over that as a group.”“But when we start getting things going, it really elevates the game of everybody,” Cone furthered, talking about the other side of the spectrum. “In fact, we kind of have to settle our guys down a little bit. But it&#x27;s an amazing thing.”“We experience that back home, we experience that basically everywhere we go in the world. It&#x27;s just such a unique thing to our team and to our country and our culture,” he added.Gilas needs all the energy it gets from the Pinoy crowd moving forward as it continues to ride a win-or-go-home in the Asia Cup.The Philippines’ next stop is a clash against hosts Saudi Arabia, a qualification bout for a spot in the quarterfinals early Tuesday, August 12.Tip-off is at 12 a.m., Manila time.

Gilas is competing a thousand miles away from the Philippines in the FIBA Asia Cup, but the Pinoy fans in Jeddah are pumping much-needed life and energy to give them a virtual home-court advantage in each of its games.

Gilas is competing a thousand miles away from the Philippines in the FIBA Asia Cup, but the Pinoy fans in Jeddah are pumping much-needed life and energy to give them a virtual home-court advantage in each of its games.

FIBA: Pinoy fans in Jeddah continue to inspire, elevate Gilas Pilipinas in Asia Cup

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FIBA: Pinoy fans in Jeddah continue to inspire, elevate Gilas Pilipinas in Asia Cup

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 11, 2025 03:16 PM PHT

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