Gilas Pilipinas gets things going ahead of Doha friendlies, qualifiers

Gilas Pilipinas’ Dwight Ramos.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Gilas Pilipinas has reconvened for training camp ahead of the third leg of the 2025 Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers.

It will be a hectic month for Gilas, which is also slated to play exhibition matches in Doha, Qatar before the qualifiers.

Members of Gilas–from players to coaches–arrived at Inspire Sports Academy in Laguna on Tuesday.

READ: Justin Brownlee gears up for Gilas stint after leading Ginebra to semis

One of the notable names present at the start of the camp was Dwight Ramos, who did not play during Gilas’ 93-54 whipping of Hong Kong last November due to pain in his knee and calf.

Ramos’ fellow Filipino import in the B.League AJ Edu was also in attendance. Edu will be expected to play a bigger role with Kai Sotto sidelined with a torn ACL.

Apart from the mainstays, Ginebra’s RJ Abarrientos and Ralph Cu also joined the national team.

Abarrientos and Cu, however, are both part of the camp but not as pool members but as practice players with Troy Rosario injured after hurting his knee in the Gin Kings’ win over the Meralco Bolts on Sunday.

READ: Gilas set for friendlies in Doha as Fiba Asia Cup preps begin

Assistant coaches Sean Chambers and Richard Del Rosario also arrived in Laguna with program director Alfrancis Chua.

Korean Basketball League imports Carl Tamayo and Kevin Quiambao are also expected to join Gilas in its string of friendlies against Qatar, Lebanon and Egypt in Doha. Gilas leaves for Doha on Thursday.

The Philippines has already secured a slot in the Fiba Asia Cup set in Saudi Arabia in August after a 4-0 record in Group B.

Gilas takes on host Chinese Taipei on February 20 before visiting New Zealand on Feb. 23.