Philippines' national basketball team, Gilas Pilipinas, confronts challenging opponents in the FIBA Asia Cup competition.
Gilas Pilipinas began their campaign in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup on a disappointing note, losing to Chinese Taipei with a score of 95-87. The Taiwanese squad, led by veteran guard Chen Ying-Chun, proved to be a formidable opponent, with Ying-Chun scoring an impressive 34 points, including six three-pointers.
For Gilas Pilipinas, Kevin Quiambao stood out, scoring 17 points with four rebounds and two assists. Quiambao showed strong energy in the second half, but it wasn't enough to overturn the deficit. The loss comes after Chinese Taipei had beaten Gilas in the Asia Cup Qualifiers earlier in the year.
Key players for Gilas Pilipinas include Justin Brownlee, Scottie Thompson, Dwight Ramos, June Mar Fajardo, and Japeth Aguilar, with Aguilar brought in to strengthen the frontcourt after Kai Sotto was sidelined by an ACL injury. Questions remain about youth integration and mobility in the frontline as the team retains much of its core group.
Chinese Taipei's key player was Ying-Chun, whose scoring performance proved decisive in their victory. The game was competitive, with Gilas Pilipinas fighting hard but ultimately unable to overturn the deficit.
Looking ahead, Gilas Pilipinas must focus on revitalizing their lineup and addressing frontcourt mobility to contend in the Asia Cup. Chinese Taipei, on the other hand, has shown strong form and will be a tough opponent if matched again.
Meanwhile, New Zealand is also preparing for the Asia Cup. Their squad will feature six players aged 23 or younger, including Ben Gold and Taine Murray, who played college ball in the US NCAA. Jordan Ngatai and Max Darling are also returning, along with Flynn Cameron, son of New Zealand legend Pero.
Gilas Pilipinas will face Iraq in the final game of the preliminary round on August 9, while they will open their campaign against Chinese Taipei on Wednesday, August 6 (Manila time). Mojave King and Jack Andrew are newcomers to the New Zealand squad, with King being selected 47th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2023 NBA Draft.
In a previous encounter, Chinese Taipei gave Gilas a 91-84 win. Tohi Smith-Milner, a 6-foot-9 power forward, is back for New Zealand's squad in the Asia Cup. Smith-Milner led New Zealand with 25 points and 9 rebounds against the Philippines in a previous encounter. Taylor Britt, a 6-foot-2 playmaker, will be setting up the entire offense for New Zealand.
Gilas Pilipinas' goal for the FIBA Asia Cup is to win gold. In the four February games, Gilas gave up an average of 84.8 points. Justin Brownlee was the only player who averaged in double-figure scoring in those games. In a tuneup against the Macau Black Bears a week ago, Gilas had a close 103-98 victory.
Chien-Hao Ma and naturalized center Brandon Gilbeck are in Chinese Taipei's pool. Smith-Milner was named to the All-Tournament Team after helping New Zealand finish third in the 2022 Asia Cup.
In their upcoming match, Gilas Pilipinas aims to improve their performance in the sports of basketball, specifically in the FIBA Asia Cup, as they prepare to face Iraq and compete against New Zealand. Notably, certain young players such as Ben Gold and Taine Murray from New Zealand have gained college experience in the US NCAA. On the other hand, Chinese Taipei, who have already shown their formidable skills, will be a tough opponent for Gilas, given their victory in their previous encounter.
