GILAS Pilipinas has secured a place in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025, with still two games remaining in the qualifiers to be played in February. But unlike the last three games of the qualifiers, the final pair of the matches will be away from home.
Head coach Tim Cone said the third and final window of the qualifiers will be a perfect time for the national team to learn to win on the road, part of the team’s development under the Gilas program.
The Philippines swept its assignments over New Zealand and Hong Kong, all of which held at home at the Mall of Asia Arena, during Window 2 of the qualifiers to go 4-0 in Group B. It also won over Chinese Taipei at the Philsports Arena last February.
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The final two games will be away games with Gilas engaging in rematches against Chinese Taipei on February 20 and New Zealand on February 23.
“The two away games we are going to have in February is going to be the toughest part of this window. Two toughest teams and both on the road,” said Cone.
New Zealand has also booked a ticket to the FIBA Asia Cup, and currently owns a 3-1 win-loss record in Group B.
Chinese Taipei is in third with a 1-3 slate, while Hong Kong is winless in four matches, but are looking to barge to the tournament as the third placers in the six groups will compete for the final four spots.
With New Zealand eager to not only finish the qualifiers strong but also to avenge its upset loss last Thursday and Chinese Taipei still alive for a place in the tournament proper, Cone already expects tough match-ups come February.
“It’s going to be a tough load for us, and we are already looking forward to that challenge,” Cone said.
Unless the national team stages friendly matches at home, Gilas Pilipinas fans won’t be seeing the national squad in person in their own backyard for several months with the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 taking place from August 5 to 17 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
No longer having the luxury of hosting another event such as the FIBA Basketball World Cup last year in the near future, Cone said Gilas Pilipinas must also win outside the country where all of their next games – FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers and tournament proper – will be a lot tougher.
“That’s going to be important for us to learn because we’re going to have to learn how to play on the road and win on the road,” said Cone.
“It’s always great to have our fans at full houses here. It’s awesome. But when we get on the road, we have to be able to play at the same level because all of our tournaments that we play are going to be on the road,” Cone said.
“We had that one opportunity in the World Cup in 2023 to play at home. But now, all of them are going to be on the road. So we’ve got to learn how to play well on the road,” he added.
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