Gilas Pilipinas eyes sweep of Hong Kong

Gilas Pilipinas center Kai Sotto soars for a dunk during a Fiba Asia Cup 2025 game against New Zealand. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Gilas Pilipinas shoots for a sweep of its two home stands when it battles Hong Kong anew in the Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers on Sunday night.

Fresh off a slump-breaking 93-89 win over New Zealand last Thursday, the Nationals will try to repeat over their Chinese foes 7:30 p.m. at Mall of Asia Arena, and leave nothing to chance in sewing up a spot in the main tournament that will be held in Saudi Arabia in August.

Gilas, according to an Inquirer source familiar with the inner workings of the program, is set to parade the same roster that delivered the country’s historic first victory over the Tall Blacks. But the squad will provide a different look for the visitors with June Mar Fajardo back in harness.

Fajardo sat out the tournament’s first window last February following a calf problem he sustained after helping steer his mother club San Miguel Beer to the 2023 Commissioner’s Cup championship. He has played splendidly since his return, holding his own against European big men in the Olympic qualifiers in Latvia in July and then later winning an eighth Most Valuable Player award in the Philippine Basketball Association.

‘Fun to watch them’

On Thursday night, he was big against the Kiwis, too, backstopping the young Kai Sotto for a commendable performance down low that had national coach Tim Cone singing praises after the win.

“I just love playing June Mar and Kai together. I think it’s so much fun to watch those guys play, they have great synergy between the two of them, and they look for each other and they complement each other and I think, that you know, the two of them work really, really hard to be successful together,” the seasoned mentor said.

“You don’t see very many two power-inside guys playing the game together anymore these days. It’s really fun to watch them play. I really enjoy it.”

Gilas crushed Hong Kong by 30 points in their previous meeting on the visitors’ home turf. Sotto was adjudged the finest performer in that contest with his 13 points and 15 rebounds, but Kevin Quiambao was just as splendid with the 15 points he scattered in just under 17 minutes of play.