GILAS Pilipinas starts its stint in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 on Tuesday night in Jeddah, but will be seen in the wee hours of Wednesday morning in this basketball-crazy nation.
The first game features a familiar foe in Chinese Taipei as both teams are out to begin the campaign on a high note. Here is a preview of the match.
CHINESE TAIPEI VS. PHILIPPINES
When: Tuesday, August 5, 9 p.m. Jeddah time / Wednesday, August 6, 2 a.m. Philippine time
Where: King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah
Splitting their games in the qualifiers
Gilas Pilipinas and Chinese Taipei split their matches during the qualifiers. The Philippines won at home in their first match-up at the Philsports Arena in the February 2024 window in convincing fashion, 106-53. Chinese Taipei got back at the Philippines in its home floor via a 91-84 win in the February 2025 window.
Players to watch
Already familiar to the Filipino fans are naturalized player Brandon Gilbeck and Mohammad Al Bachir Gadiaga. The 7-foot Gilbeck had eight points, eight rebounds, and five blocks against Gilas during the February 2025 window, and he will surely be a problem to the Philippines’ frontline with Kai Sotto not playing in the game.
Gadiaga was classified as a local in 2023 after a few years as Chinese Taipei's naturalized player. He is on Senegalese descent, but has been living in Taiwan since he was eight. He had 21 points in Chinese Taipei’s win over Philippines in February 2025.
Also getting Gilas' attention are Minton brothers Adam and Robert, who both play NCAA Division 1 basketball. The 22-year-old Adam played for Cornell University, while Robert, 19, was recently adjudged as the Ivy League Rookie of the Year at Harvard.
Ting Chien Lin is the top local of Chinese Taipei as it also deals with the absence of Lu Chun-Hsiang due to an injury.
First tournament without Kai Sotto
Though Kai Sotto has already missed two games in the qualification round, Gilas will be playing its first full tournament without their primary big man. Sotto’s absence will surely be huge for the entire tournament with his post moves, decent medium and outside shooting, and defense. June Mar Fajardo, AJ Edu, and Japeth Aguilar will have to double their efforts inside.
A fresh Justin Brownlee
Justin Brownlee is set to play an official game for the first time since March when he played for Barangay Ginebra in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals against TNT. Brownlee is well-rested, after recovering from a dislocated thumb that he got during that championship series. It showed during the first tune-up game where Brownlee lit up for 32 points in their tune-up game against Macau Black Bears.
Defense an emphasis in Gilas’ campaign
National coach Tim Cone expects big offensive plays from the likes of Justin Brownlee and Dwight Ramos over the course of the tournament. But Cone said it is going to be defense that will win them games in the Asia Cup.
“Dwight is going to hit some shots and do some things. Justin’s going to do his thing. We’re going to do some nice things out there… But what is going to win for us is our defense. And that’s what we’re going to hang our hat on. And that's what we've constantly talked about since we've been together,” said Cone.
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