Gilas in race against time

Gilas Pilipinas is doubling up on building its chemistry with less than a month before the FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Gilas coach Tim Cone is taking advantage of the majority of the team already available for training for a system refresher heading into the prestigious continental basketball tilt running from 5 to 17 August.

Attending the daily practices are Dwight Ramos, Scottie Thompson, Jamie Malonzo, Chris Newsome, Carl Tamayo, AJ Edu, and Japeth Aguilar, who are joined by Troy Rosario and RJ Abarrientos.

“We just went over some things. We’re just getting back together so we’re all just trying to get on the same page,” Ramos said.

Naturalized player Justin Brownlee, who has fully recovered from a thumb injury he suffered during the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup finals, attended practice earlier this week.

Brownlee has received the green light to suit up for Gilas Pilipinas after FIBA concluded that the presence of Carboxy-THC in his sample from 21 November 2024 does not constitute an Anti-Doping Rule Violation, considering the approved therapeutic use exemption.

Gilas is still waiting for the return of Kevin Quiambao from the United States and the conclusion of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals so that June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez and Calvin Oftana can also join Gilas practices.

A total of nine more practice sessions in Manila until the 30th is in the Gilas calendar, before departing for Jeddah. They have also planned a short camp in Pampanga from 25 to 27 July.

“We’re playing catch-up but we’ll just have to work harder and be prepared as best as we can,” Ramos added.

Meanwhile, a tune-up match against the Macau Black Bears is set on 28 July at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum before Gilas’ FIBA Asia Cup journey begins.