Latest news with #GilasPilipinas
GMA Network
5 hours ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
Justin Brownlee relieved to return to Gilas duty after injury, suspension scare
Justin Brownlee expressed relief following a turbulent stretch marred by injury recovery and a suspension scare as he is now all cleared to suit up for Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA Asia Cup next week. Brownlee formally returned to national team duty on Monday, powering the squad to a 103-98 comeback win over the Macau Black Bears in a friendly affair. The naturalized forward dropped 32 points on 5-of-7 from downtown and grabbed 15 rebounds, five assists, one steal, and one block. His explosive outing marked his return in nearly five months. The resident import hurt his thumb during Game 3 of the PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals against TNT last March but played through it as the Gin Kings fell to eventual champions Tropang 5G. Shortly after the series, Brownlee received an 'adverse analytical finding' in relation to a doping test, his second after another incident back in October 2023 following the Gilas' historic title run in the Asian Games. Eventually, the 37-year-old Brownlee was not given any kind of suspension and affirmed that he is 100 percent ready, health-wise, to rejoin Gilas Pilipinas. "It feels good, just a little stiffness. I feel 100 percent healthy," Brownlee said. "It just feels good to be back with the team. I'm glad everything worked out with the situation. Yeah, it's definitely good to be back and moving forward, we're really focused." With Brownlee back, Gilas hopes to create another historic moment in the Asia Cup similar to what they accomplished in the Asian Games, where they ended a 61-year gold medal drought. The last time the national team ruled the Asia Cup was in 1985 and the nearest it got to a gold was a pair of silver medal finishes in 2013 and 2015. In the 2022 edition, Gilas bowed to Japan in the playoffs with a dismal 102-81 loss that formally ended the country's podium hopes. "Now, I think we kind of have put Asia on notice as far as saying that we're here and we really want to be able to compete,' Brownlee said. "The Philippines is growing and I think, it's got to a point where, like coach Tim said earlier, we want to be able to dominate Asian basketball. I think with the team we have.I think that's very possible to do.' —JKC, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
7 hours ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
Cone targets FIBA Asia Cup gold for Gilas, but keeps sights set on Chinese Taipei clash
While a championship remains the ultimate goal, Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone insisted the path to the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup glory starts with full focus on the first game. The seasoned tactician emphasized the importance of passing an early test against an ever-improving Chinese Taipei on August 6—a matchup that could set the tone for the rest of Gilas Pilipinas' Asia Cup campaign. "I'll say it again, our goal is to win the gold medal. That's our goal. We're gonna go out there and try to win the gold medal. Will we? I'm not sure," Cone said on the heels of Gilas' 103-98 win over the Macau Black Bears in a friendly game last Monday. "That's certainly our goal, but that's not what we're focused on though. We're focused on everyday, on what we do everyday." Gilas fell to Chinese Taipei the last time they faced each other during the third and final window of the Asia Cup qualifiers last February, where the Filipinos absorbed a 91-84 beating. That win served as Chinese Taipei's first over the Philippines since 2013. Chinese Taipei is also being bolstered by American-Taiwanese brothers Adam and Robert Hinton, who both play in the US NCAA Division 1. With this, head coach Tim Cone believes clearing this early hurdle would be a significant statement for Gilas, especially with tougher matchups against New Zealand and Iraq looming. "Taiwan beat us the last time we played them and they have two young Division 1 players in the Hinton brothers and those guys are making an impact on that team," Cone added. "They definitely have the personnel, it wasn't a fluke that they beat us. So we have to be prepared for them." When it comes to personnel, however, veteran Justin Brownlee is confident that Gilas has the tools to dominate Asia—backed by a new generation of talent led by AJ Edu, Kevin Quiambao, Carl Tamayo, and Dwight Ramos. "Man, it's an incredible challenge you know. You got some really good teams out there," the resident import said. "I think that's very possible to do. It's just going to take us an extreme amount of hardwork and dedication from everybody to buy into that. With everybody doing that, I think it's a bright future to be honest for Gilas program." —JKC, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
a day ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
AJ Edu admits Gilas Pilipinas still adjusting to life without Kai Sotto
AJ Edu and the rest of Gilas Pilipinas understand that everyone has to step up as they are set to navigate the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup without one of their key big men in Kai Sotto. That was on full display during their friendly match against the Macau Black Bears on Monday, where the Filipinos rallied for a gritty 103–98 comeback win in front of their home crowd. Usual suspect Justin Brownlee was in his element in his first game back for the flag, dropping a game-high 32 points on 5-of-7 shooting from downtown and collecting 15 rebounds, five assists, one steal, and a block. Brownlee, though, didn't lack support with his teammates stepping up in the 21-point fightback. Dwight Ramos churned out 19 points, four rebounds, six assists, two steals, and one block while Edu made his presence felt on the paint with 15 markers and three boards. Kevin Quiambao chipped in 14 points, five rebounds, and two assists while Scottie Thompson and CJ Perez finished with 10 and seven markers to rally the Philippines from a double-digit deficit. "[Coach Tim said] nothing specific [at the halftime break], he just knows we're better than that, that first half wasn't us," Edu said. "He just wanted us to be who we are, who we've been preparing to be." Despite the win, AJ Edu acknowledged that Kai Sotto's absence leaves a significant void, but stressed that the team is ready to rise to the challenge in the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The 7-foot-3 Sotto was ruled out for the tournament after sustaining an ACL injury while suiting up for Koshigaya in the Japan B. League earlier this year. ?"It's still an adjustment. Kai is such an important piece, especially to the way we play in the triangle," Edu added. "But we're gonna have to make do without him for now and everyone decides to step and tonight, you saw how many people stepped up and we just gotta keep that going until Kai comes back." —JMB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
2 days ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
Calvin Oftana doubtful for Gilas Pilipinas in FIBA Asia Cup
Calvin Oftana's health status puts his availability for Gilas Pilipinas in doubt ahead of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup. National team head coach Tim Cone revealed on Monday that Oftana is uncertain to suit up after the sharpshooter sustained injuries during TNT's finals series against San Miguel in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup. Oftana hurt both of his ankles in the grueling finals clash as the Tropang 5G eventually fell to the Beermen in six games. "We're not sure about Calvin. The medical reports are that he might be out a little bit longer," Cone said following Gilas' 103-98 win over the Macau Black Bears in a friendly encounter at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. "We were given a medical report from his camp so we're not sure if he's going to be available for the whole tournament." Cone, though, isn't worried about the manpower shortage with his trusted wards in Troy Rosario and RJ Abarrientos ready to step in whenever necessary. "We're gonna try to address that today or tomorrow and we got Troy and RJ in the wings to step in if necessary," Cone added. Cone also added that June Mar Fajardo, who sat out the send-off showdown against Macau, will take another three-day off before rejoining physical activities once they land in Jeddah, where they will figure in another friendly game against Jordan before the Asia Cup proper. "But June Mar, we expect him to start practicing when we land in Jeddah," Cone shared. "He changes the game for us, we have to play a different way with June Mar on the floor and that's the only concern because we haven't had practice time with him. We'll see what's going on with him." —JKC, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
2 days ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
Gilas Pilipinas stages mighty comeback vs. Macau in send-off showdown
Gilas Pilipinas unleashed an explosive second half to erase a huge deficit and eke out a 103-98 win against the Macau Black Bears in a friendly game on Monday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The Filipinos leaned on spark plug CJ Perez and usual suspects Justin Brownlee and Dwight Ramos to turn a 21-point deficit into a five-point victory. The exhibition game served as part of Gilas Pilipinas' final preparations for the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup slated early next month. —JKC, GMA Integrated News
