MANILA — Gilas Pilipinas will be facing some familiar opponents in the group stage of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup, which is set to take place from August 5 to 17 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The Philippines has been placed in Group D alongside Chinese Taipei, New Zealand, and Iraq. The group draw was announced recently, setting the stage for intense matchups as teams gear up for continental glory.
Gilas has already crossed paths with Chinese Taipei and New Zealand during the qualifiers held earlier this year, where the national team suffered back-to-back defeats to both squads last February. Those losses add extra motivation for Gilas to bounce back when the tournament begins.
Elsewhere, Group A will feature Qatar, Australia, Korea, and Lebanon in what’s expected to be one of the most competitive brackets.
Group B includes Guam—featuring Filipino Guamanian guard Jericho Cruz—alongside regional heavyweight Japan, as well as Syria and Iran.
Meanwhile, Group C is composed of China, Jordan, India, and Saudi Arabia, the host nation of this year’s tournament.
The 2025 FIBA Asia Cup marks another crucial test for Gilas Pilipinas as they continue to rebuild under head coach Tim Cone, aiming for a stronger performance after a rocky qualification campaign.
ia/mnm
