GILAS Pilipinas starts its title retention bid in the 20th Asian Games men’s basketball tournament against Bahrain on Friday in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
PHILIPPINES VS. BAHRAIN
When: Friday, September 11. 1 p.m. local time (12 noon Philippines time)
Where: Aichi International Arena
All-PBA squad starts gold bid
Gilas starts its quest for a second straight Asian Games gold medal with a match-up against Bahrain. The Philippines formed a totally different team from its 'main' FIBA squad with Kai Sotto and overseas-based players Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, Carl Tamayo, and Kevin Quiambao unavailable.
This Gilas team for this Asiad also has no remnants from that championship conquest in Hangzhou, including Justin Brownlee, who has been ruled out of the due to multiple injuries.
Multiple naturalized players
In a bid to strengthen its medal hopes, Bahrain is parading four naturalized players led by JaKarr Simpson, who has already played for the squad in the FIBA Asia Cup 2029 Pre-Qualifiers.
Other naturalized players for Bahrain include Elijah Thomas and 3x3 campaigners Uros Ilic and Kelechi Ajukwa.
Rocky tuneup games
Gilas finished its series of tuneup games with two blowout defeats by an average margin of 26.5 points at the hands Korea. Head coach Tim Cone, however, said there is no need to panic, with the staff vowing to prepare the national team better for the actual tournament.
Filipino fans are definitely hoping for a better result in the Asian Games opener.
Bolick out to improve
Robert Bolick is expected to take charge of the offense for Gilas in the Asiad. The NLEX guard will also be out to improve following disappointing games during the Korea tuneups where he scored just two points in each of the two games, and shot just 2-of-15 combined from the field.
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