Gilas Pilipinas to play 2 home games in upcoming FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers window

Sports

GILAS Pilipinas is gearing up for the upcoming second window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.

The Nationals are 2-0 (win-loss) record in the tournament, beating Hong Kong first then Chinese Taipei next. Gilas scored those two wins in convincing fashion, chalking those victories by an average winning margin of 42.5 points.

Gilas will be the host team in the upcoming window, facing New Zealand on November 21 and Hong Kong on November 24 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Gilas’ 15-man pool will enter the Inspire Sports Academy on Friday, November 15, for a weeklong practice ahead of the two home games.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has announced that the 15-man pool will include Japeth Aguilar, Mason Amos, Justin Brownlee, AJ Edu, June Mar Fajardo, Ange Kouame, Jamie Malonzo, Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, CJ Perez, Kevin Quiambao, Dwight Ramos, Kai Sotto, Carl Tamayo, and Scottie Thompson.

The Nationals will still be coached by veteran American bench tactician Tim Cone.

With Kouame in the pool, Cone will have to choose between Kouame or Brownlee for the upcoming window.

The 6-foot-11 Kouame is currently playing for the Meralco Bolts as an import in the East Asia Super League. The Bolts will clash with the Busan KCC Egis at PhilSports Arena this Wednesday, Nov. 13.

Brownlee has just completed his obligation with the Barangay Ginebra Kings where they lost to the TNT Tropang Giga in the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals.

Ginebra will still field Brownlee in for the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, which will begin late this month.(CCM)