Gilas to use qualifiers as Asia Cup warmup

With a spot in the FIBA Asia Cup already secured, Gilas Pilipinas is planning to use the coming third window of the qualifiers as a warmup event for the prestigious continental cup from 5 to 17 August in Saudi Arabia.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Erika Dy told DAILY TRIBUNE that their focus is now on the Asia Cup, where the best teams in Asia and Oceania like Australia, Japan, Lebanon and Asian Games silver medalist Jordan are set to see action.

Powered by National Basketball Association (NBA) players like Josh Giddey, Patty Mills and Joe Ingles, Australia topped Group A with four straight wins.

Japan, which is expected to parade Los Angeles Laker Rui Hachimura, will also enter the third window with a spotless record in Group C while Lebanon of reigning Asia Cup Most Valuable Player Wael Arakji and Jordan of TNT Tropang Giga import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson also topped Groups F and D, respectively.

Dy said they are determined to come up with a solid preparation so they will be using their games against Chinese Taipei on 20 February and New Zealand on 23 February as a golden opportunity to finetune their strategies and further develop cohesiveness as a solid unit.

“Coach Tim (Cone) is confident since we have already qualified so we are looking at this window to prepare for the Asia Cup,” Dy said in a telephone interview.

“We might be playing with a smaller lineup against New Zealand.”

Gilas will fly to Doha on Thursday to compete in four-nation friendly matches against Qatar, Lebanon and Egypt before returning to the Philippines on 17 February for a quick stop. Then, they will fly to Taiwan on 18 February to start their Asia Cup Qualifiers campaign.

With big men Kai Sotto and Troy Rosario as well as guard Dwight Ramos nursing respective injuries, this window is a good chance for Cone to try new combinations and map out his strategies.

The 7-foot-3 Sotto emerged as the biggest casualty after suffering anterior cruciate ligament tear while playing in Japan last month. With Sotto not around, Cone would be able to give AJ Edu and Jamie Malonzo extended playing time, making them fit and deadly in the Asia Cup.

“The basic thing is that we’re using this Doha trip as a chance to prepare, not for this immediate window because we have already qualified, but as a preparation for the FIBA Asia in August,” Cone said.