In a new era for Gilas Pilipinas, the team has set sail on a successful journey in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers. Head coach Tim Cone, who recently took on the role permanently after leading the team to a gold medal at the Asian Games, is guiding the team to a promising start.
With a 2-0 record in Group B of the qualifiers, Gilas Pilipinas dominated their opponents, including a 53-point victory over Chinese Taipei. The team, composed of players from the PBA, UAAP, and the Japan B. League, along with naturalized player Justin Brownlee, is off to a strong start under Cone’s leadership.
Despite the early success, Cone acknowledges that there is still a long way to go before reaching their ultimate goals of qualifying for the 2027 FIBA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The team will now disband temporarily, with players returning to their respective clubs for upcoming tournaments.
Brownlee, who will play overseas in the meantime, is staying in shape to be ready for the next season with Ginebra and future national team duties. Cone mentioned that there are offers for Brownlee to play abroad during the PBA Philippine Cup break.
As they look ahead to the next phase of their journey, Gilas Pilipinas remains focused on the task at hand, knowing that the road to success is long but filled with potential for greatness.
