After losing earlier this year in qualifiers, Gilas Pilipinas seek payback and a strong start to the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 against Chinese Taipei in Group D action.
Gilas Pilipinas begin their FIBA Asia Cup 2025 campaign with a familiar foe in Chinese Taipei — and a familiar score to settle.
Tip-off is set for 2:00 a.m. Wednesday (PH time) at King Abdullah Sports City in Saudi Arabia, where the Philippines will look to flip the script after falling to Chinese Taipei in the final window of the qualifiers back in February.
[Related: Finally, Justin Brownlee brings Gilas magic to FIBA Asia Cup]
Despite that setback, Gilas Pilipinas hold a 5-2 edge in their FIBA head-to-head since 2009, though Chinese Taipei famously took their last Asia Cup meeting in 2013, 84-79.
A dozen years have passed since that heartbreak in Manila, but the stakes remain the same: control of Group D and momentum to open the continental tilt.
Gilas enters the tournament without 7-foot-3 big man Kai Sotto, who continues to recover from an ACL injury he suffered in January.
Still, head coach Tim Cone will lean on a battle-tested core led by naturalized ace Justin Brownlee, versatile forward Dwight Ramos, floor general Scottie Thompson, two-way wing Chris Newsome, and eight-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo.
[Related: Tim Cone stresses importance of FIBA Asia Cup opener vs Chinese Taipei]
With Sotto sidelined, Fajardo’s interior presence becomes even more critical against a Chinese Taipei frontline headlined by Senegalese-Taiwanese Mohammad Gadiaga.
Chinese Taipei also won't be at full strength, missing explosive forward Chun Hsiang Lu.
But they’ll be reinforced by the debut of US-based brothers Robert and Adam Hinton, who join perimeter threat Lin Ting-Chien to round out a roster that blends youth and scoring punch.
While both teams face questions with their lineups, Gilas will be laser-focused on a strong start — not just to shake off the qualifier loss, but to reassert itself as a regional power.
Cone’s squad has championship aspirations in this cycle, and that road begins with a crucial early test against a resurgent regional rival.
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]