Gilas Pilipinas takes on Hong Kong to kick off FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers

Gilas Pilipinas will finally get to test its mettle in the Tim Cone era as the nationals square off with Hong Kong to kick off their 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers campaign on Thursday at the Tsuen Wan Stadium in Hong Kong. 

Tip-off is at 8 p.m. with Justin Brownlee tipped to lead the squad as he marks his return from a three-month provisional suspension due to a failed drug test on the heels of their gold medal run in the Asian Games last October. 

Against Hong Kong, though, the 35-year-old naturalized Filipino will meet a familiar face in Duncan Reid, who will reinforce the hosts.

Brownlee and Reid faced each other when the former’s Barangay Ginebra and the latter’s Bay Area disputed the Season 47 Commissioner’s Cup title which the Gin Kings eventually ruled. The 34-year-old Reid, a regular starter for the Dragons, is expected to provide a defensive boost for Hong Kong, who ranks 26th in Asia.

Brownlee, however, doesn’t have a shortage of manpower support.

Newly-minted PBA Best Player of the Conference CJ Perez alongside other professional cagers Scottie Thompson, Jamie Malonzo, Calvin Oftana, Chris Newsome, and Japeth Aguilar are expected to unleash their veteran presence.

Meanwhile, the youthful crew of reigning UAAP Most Valuable Player Kevin Quiambao, alongside Carl Tamayo, Dwight Ramos, and Kai Sotto, have huge tasks to fulfill for Gilas. 

Aside from Reid, Hong Kong will also lean on veterans Chi Lok Jolin So and Lung Tak Tsoi, who has been representing the country for a while and was part of the squad that competed in the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers. 

Rounding out Hong Kong’s roster are Shiu Wah Leung, Tin Chi Ho, Ricky Yang, Tsz Kin Tam, Sui Hung Yeung, Tsz Him Wong, Oiver Xu, Kwan Ho Liu, and Hiu Fung Chan. 

—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA Integrated News