Gilas vs Hong Kong Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers


Tsuen Wan Sports Centre

8pm–Philippines-Gilas Pilipinas vs Hong Kong

Gilas fans have entered the venue

LOOK: Filipino fans gather to watch Gilas play in Hong Kong

PHOTOS: Gilas Pilipinas last practice before first Fiba Asia Cup qualifying game

Gilas holds last practice on day of Hong Kong match

Japeth Aguilar Gilas Fiba

Japeth Aguilar goofs around with his Gilas Pilipinas teammates during a training session ahead of the Filipinos’ game against Hong Kong in the Fiba Asia Cup 2025 qualifiers. –DENISON DALUPANG

HONG KONG — Gilas Pilipinas fixture June Mar Fajardo is beyond grateful that Japeth Aguilar came in to plug his and AJ Edu’s absences for the Nationals in the opening window of the Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers.

“We’re really thankful of Japeth. As you know, he’s been the longest-serving player here,” the soft-spoken big man told the Inquirer on the sidelines of the team’s practice on Thursday at Tsuen Wan Sports Centre here.

Gilas CJ Perez Fiba Asia Cup

Gilas Pilipinas’ CJ Perez during a training session ahead of the Filipinos’ game against Hong Kong in the Fiba Asia Cup 2025 qualifiers. –DENISON DALUPANG

HONG KONG — Gilas Pilipinas’ CJ Perez believes he owes this country a show when the Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers raise its curtains this Thursday.

“Playing here in Hong Kong is a great opportunity to provide entertainment for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs),” he told the Inquirer shortly after the practice at Tsuen Wan Sports Centre on Thursday.

“[Some of them] haven’t been back home for so long and haven’t had the chance to see Philippine basketball live, so you bet we’re excited to bring the game close [to them] and give our best to win the game,” he added.

VIDEO: Justin Brownlee during the post-practice shootaround in Hong Kong

Gilas Hong Kong Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers

Gilas Pilipinas huddles at midcourt after finishing a training session at Hong Kong’s Tsuen Wan Sports Centre. —DENISON REY A. DALUPANG

HONG KONG—When the new look Gilas Pilipinas tests its mettle on Thursday, the Nationals understand how big of a first step they will be taking against a lower-ranked Hong Kong squad in the opening window of the Fiba  Asia Cup Qualifiers.

“As coach Tim (Cone) said, this is one team that we can really beat, so we need to do just that. Winning this first game will be our building blocks,” June Mar Fajardo told the Inquirer on the sidelines of a long practice at Tsuen Wan Sports Centre here.

Carl Tamayo Kevin Quiambao Gilas Pilipinas

Carl Tamayo, left, and Kevin Quiambao, former teammates in high school, team up again this time for Gilas Pilipinas in the Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Carl Tamayo has a lot of things to be excited about in his return to Gilas Pilipinas for the Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers one of which is his reunion with Kevin Quiambao.

Tamayo said he can’t wait to share the frontcourt with Quiambao, who was his teammate in high school.

“I’m excited because we faced each other in college and now we have a chance to play together like we did in high school and knowing Kevin, we have our chemistry as teammates where we know how each other plays,” said Tamayo in Filipino.



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