MANILA, Philippines — Gilas Pilipinas will be playing at least two friendly games versus the South Korean national team in the early days of September as part of the national squad’s preparations as it defend its men’s basketball title in the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
“The Asian Games (Gilas) team will go to Korea first to play two friendlies with the Korean national team, but for the window, we don’t have anything scheduled at this point,” said Cone.
Cone is actually focused first on preparing the Gilas squad that will be competing in the FIBA Worlds Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers second round, with the Philippines playing Jordan on Aug 28, followed by Iran on Aug 30 in a pair of home games.
Cone made it clear that he only expects very few players from the Gilas that plays in the FIBA window to see action also for the national squad that will be defending the country’s basketball crown in the Asian Games.
“I guess some of them have played in the past with Gilas, but haven’t been part of these windows, but we can still get 1, 2 or 3 from the window team, but the bulk of the team will be new for the Asian Games,” he said.
The Gilas squad competing for the Asian Games is expected to be an all-PBA reinforced squad since Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, Carl Tamayo and Kevin Quiambao, who play in Japan and Korea as Asian imports, won’t be available for the quadrennial Games.
Long-time Gilas big man June Mar Fajardo will be back for the FIBA window games, but is doubtful for the Asian Games as he plays to finally retire from playing in the national team.
On the other hand, big men Quentin Millora-Brown and Mike Phillips are unavailable as well as the former continues to recover from back surgery, and the latter, set to attend the wedding of his brother in the United States.
Cone has a wide talent base to choose from based on the list the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas submitted recent to the Japan organizers of the Asian Games.
Players deemed ineligible as locals for FIBA tournaments are allowed to suit up in the Asian Games, which only require a Philippine passport for eligibility.
Included in the Gilas pool for the Asiad include Rain or Shine’s shifty guard Adrian Nocum and Caelan Tiongson, San Miguel Beer sharpshooters Jerrick Ahanmisi and Don Trollano, Blackwater’s Sedrick Barefield, Meralco big man Brandon Bates, TNT guard Jordan Heading and big man Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, NLEX do-it-all guard Robert Bolick, Converge’s twin towers Justine Baltazar and Justin Arana, Phoenix’ Jason Perkins and Magnolia’s Zavier Lucero.
From the Asiad pool, Bolick, Trollano, Ganuelas-Rossers as well as Arana and Baltazar have prior Gilas experience, either from a previous coach or under Cone.
