AJ EDU has been ruled out of the first window of the Fiba Asia Cup 2025 qualifiers due to injury. But team officials are hopeful he would be well enough to play in the succeeding windows.
Edu suffered a torn meniscus during a game between his club team Toyama Grouses and Utsunomiya Brex last November in the Japan B.League.
Why Cone gave Edu a spot
Despite his injury, Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone has decided to give Edu a spot in his Gilas’ 12-man pool for February window.
Cone said he does not plan to fill Edu’s spot for the first window, based on his philosophy of keeping the entire Gilas pool together for an extensive period.
Gilas to play with 11 players
“Right now, AJ Edu is injured and he can’t play in the first window. But at this point, we will go with 11 until AJ can get (healthy). We want him to be part of it,” said Cone.
Edu is one of the Japan-based players that are part of the Gilas roster that also includes Dwight Ramos, Kai Sotto, and Carl Tamayo.
Edu, Ramos, and Sotto played for Gilas in the Fiba Basketball World Cup.
Cone is hoping to have Edu in the Gilas team for the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Riga, Latvia in July, the second window of the national squad in 2024.
“He will be available in April so he will be available in the second window,” said Cone.
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