THE 2025 FIBA Asia Cup has officially kicked off with Gilas Pilipinas set to open its campaign on Wednesday, 2 AM (Philippine time), against Chinese Taipei in Group D action.
No less than a gold medal will be the goal for the national team as it looks to end a 10-year medal drought in the continental showcase. The last time Gilas finished on the podium was back in 2015 when it lost in the finals to host China in Changsha.
Before Gilas starts its campaign in a few hours, here’s everything you need to know about the nationals’ upcoming campaign in Jeddah, starting with the schedule and a breadkdown of the teams in Group D!
So… what’s the outlook on Gilas?
“I’ll say it again. Our goal is to win a gold medal. That’s our goal,” Tim Cone said in a story by SPIN.ph’s Reuben Terrado. “We are going to go out there and try to win a gold medal.”
There’s a certain type of calm and reassurance for basketball fans when veteran coach Tim Cone comes into a tournament confident.
Not cocky. Not too self-assured. But confident, and that matters especially as Gilas Pilipinas will certainly be tested by three very competent teams in the group stages – two of which handed Gilas Pilipinas losses, albeit in non-bearing games.
Minus Kai Sotto, who’s still recovering from an ACL injury, this is basically the same team that turned heads in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament last year so familiarity will certainly be in Gilas’ favor.
They have to prove that they can continue to be as good without Sotto, though, but with AJ Edu getting more time to mesh with the team – the blow from Sotto’s absence will be softened, at the very least, when it comes to size and length issues.
Justin Brownlee will still be the main man for Gilas Pilipinas, but it will help if the likes of Dwight Ramos, Calvin Oftana and Cjay Perez provide some needed offense from the perimeter.
Chris Newsome and Scottie Thompson will once again take turns in orchestrating Cone’s offense, while there will be plenty of eyes on young guns Kevin Quiambao and Carl Tamayo after impressive runs in Korea.
RECOMMENDED GILAS READING:
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New Zealand still the biggest hurdle, but team looks beatable
New Zealand won’t be having three of its best players in Sam Waardenburg, Corey Webster and former Converge import Tom Vodanovich so that’s a huge boost for Gilas.
However, the national team will have to deal with NBA G-League Mojave King, who already had himself a solid game in his debut for New Zealand, finishing with 18 points in their 100-78 win over Iraq.
King joins the likes of Taylor Britt, Tohi Smith-Milner, Cameron Flynn and Carlin Davison in looking to improve on their bronze medal finish from the 2022 Asia Cup
RECOMMENDED NEW ZEALAND READING:
NBA G Leaguer, LA Lakers draftee Mojave King shores up NZ lineup
Tall Blacks win four, lose one in two pre-Asia Cup tournaments
There’s a reason to be wary of Chinese Taipei
Gilas opens its campaign against Chinese Taipei that is looking more and more formidable as the Asia Cup draws nearer and nearer.
This is a totally different team from the one that Gilas beat by 53 points to start the Asia Cup qualifiers – evident when it shocked Gilas Pilipinas in Taiwan just last February.
Chinese Taipei’s already known for its shooting, but they have seemingly fixed some glaring holes ahead of this continental tournament.
Naturalized center Brandon Gilbeck fixes the hole in the middle for this team while reclassified local Mohammad Gadiaga and the now available Hinton brothers in Adam and Robert gives Chinese Taipei some added athleticism and scoring in the wings.
RECOMMENDED CHINESE TAIPEI READING:
Taipei game tests Gilas' title credentials as Asia Cup gets going
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Gilas coach Cone wary of Taipei's US-based Hinton brothers
Iraq not yet on Gilas’ level, but this team can pull off a surprise or two
Perhaps fans are already overlooking the Iraq match, but Gilas will be foolish to do so.
The Iraqis will be banking on the trio of naturalized guard Demario Mayfield, Thulfiqar Hammoodi and Ahmed Abdul Allah to provide the scoring punch, while also boasting of bruising bigs in Ihab Al-Zuhairi and Ali Ismael who can step out and stretch the floor with their shooting.
They were in the game against New Zealand up until the early goings of the fourth when the Tall Blacks broke the game wide open with a 37-point fourth quarter.
RECOMMENDED IRAQ READING:
New Zealand finishes strong to shake off Iraqis in Asia Cup debut
With the three Group D rivals out of the way, let’s take a look at some of the teams that Gilas could be facing come the knockout draw.
CHINA: Injuries, NBA commitments weaken once-mighty China in Asia Cup
CHINA is bracing for a tough campaign in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah as the focus for Team Dragon revolved around the absences more than those in uniform.
Yang Hansen, selected 16th in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Portland Trailblazers, and Zeng Fanbo, who signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Brooklyn Nets, were the most glaring absences for the Chinese team which are seeking to reclaim the throne they last won in Changsha back in 2015.
Aside from the young guns, other big names omitted from the list are former NBA prospects Zhou Qi (Houston Rockets) and Cui Yongxi (Brooklyn Nets), court general Zhao Jiwei, and veteran forward Zhang Zhenlin, all of whom are nursing injuries.
Still, coach Guo Shiqiang is keeping his faith, acknowledging the challenges while opting to ride with the youth in building the future for Chinese basketball. (RL)
READ MORE HERE
IRAN: With Haddadi done, Mohammad Amini takes lead for Iran in Asia Cup
FOR the first time in two decades, there will be no Hamed Haddadi in Iran’s roster for the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup.
Despite the absence of the Iranian behemoth, Team Melli remains formidable heading into Jeddah.
Coach Sotiris Manolopoulos put a premium on youth in constructing Iran’s roster for this edition, with his biggest callup being 20-year-old slasher Mohammad Amini who currently plays for SLUC Nancy Basket in France.
After a breakout performance in the senior level in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, Amini's rise as Iran's next big star continued in the Asia Cup qualifiers.
The 20-year-old averaged close to 16 points a game alongside 6.2 boards in five games. (RL)
READ MORE HERE
LEBANON: Wael Arakji named to Lebanon’s 12-man lineup for Fiba Asia Cup
PROLIFIC guard Wael Arakji has been listed as part of Lebanon’s 12-man roster for the 31st FIBA Asia Cup.
Despite suffering a shoulder injury in the last Basketball Champions League Asia that kept him from completing the tournament, the 6-foot-4 point guard is again slated to lead the Cedars’ bid to finally nail the elusive championship after four runner-up finishes in the last 24 years.
The 30-year-old Beirut native was sensational in the last Asia Cup edition in 2022, one which saw him emerge as the men’s top scorer and MVP with a 26.0-point average per game.
The Cedars took Australia to the limit before losing a close one, 75-73.
Also part of the Lebanon team is veteran shooting guard Amir Saoud and a new naturalized player in Dedric Lawson, a former Kansas Jayhawk who is playing as an import in the Chinese pro league. (Gerry Ramos)
READ MORE HERE
AUSTRALIA: Even with no big NBA names, Aussies still formidable in Asia Cup
JACK McVeigh and Will Magnay will spearhead Australia’s campaign in the FIBA Asia Cup championship which kicks off in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday .
The two, the only holdovers from the Boomers squad which competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics, will be front and center for the green-and-gold’s title-retention bid, and its third straight, in the continental tourney.
McVeigh had a two-way contract for the Houston Rockets in the NBA last season, while Magnay helped the Tasmania JackJumpers win the NBL crown last year. (RL)
READ MORE HERE
JAPAN: Yuki Togashi leads from the front for Japan with Kawamura out
ALL eyes will be on Yuki Togashi as he spearheads Japan in the 2025 Fiba Asia Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The crafty 5-foot-6 guard from the Chiba Jets will lead the fight for the Akatsuki Five as they aim to make their first podium in the continental showpiece since 1997.
Togashi is expected to be one of the top playmakers in this tournament as he carries the torch for a Japanese side which won’t have Chicago Bulls guard Yuki Kawamura in this tilt.
Nonetheless, he is one of four holdovers from Japan’s roster in the 2024 Paris Olympics, alongside naturalized player Josh Hawkinson of SunRockers Shibuya, Yudai Baba, and Akira Jacobs. (RL)
READ MORE HERE
KOREA: Lee Hyun Jung back to lead Korea in uphill Fiba Asia Cup campaign
LEE Hyun Jung rejoins the Korean national team in the hope of bringing his country back to the podium at the 2025 Fiba Asia Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The 24-year-old sniper is the biggest among the returnees of the Korean national team after chasing his NBA dream.
He played for the Santa Cruz Warriors in the NBA G League back in the 2022-23 season before signing with the Illawarra Hawks in Australia and Osaka Evessa in Japan.
Korea is in Group A with reigning champion Australia, Lebanon, and Qatar. (RL)
READ MORE HERE
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