Gilas Pilipinas has officially touched down in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as they gear up for the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup, scheduled to run from August 5 to 17. The Philippine men’s basketball team is set to face powerhouse squads in Group D, including Chinese Taipei, New Zealand, and Iraq.
Head coach Tim Cone reaffirmed the team’s bold ambition upon arrival. “Our goal is to win the gold medal,” Cone said in an interview, underscoring the squad’s determined mindset going into the continental tournament.
The team landed in Jeddah on July 31, just days before their highly anticipated warm-up match against Jordan—a critical test before their opening game against Chinese Taipei on August 5 at King Abdullah Sports City Hall.
Before flying out, Gilas capped off their local preparations with a victorious send-off game against the Macau Black Bears, a momentum-boosting win that added confidence to the roster.
With only the top team in each group securing an outright berth to the quarterfinals, every game in the group stage will be pivotal. The second and third-placed teams must fight through additional playoff rounds to keep their championship hopes alive.
