Japeth Aguilar, Mason Amos added to Gilas Pilipinas pool

Gilas Pilipinas loaded its frontcourt after adding veteran Japeth Aguilar and youthful big man Mason Amos to head coach Tim Cone’s pool.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) announced Aguilar and Amos’ inclusion with the decorated tactician highlighting they lacked some height during the first window of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, which saw AJ Edu and June Mar Fajardo out due to injuries.

“We’re excited that Mason and Japeth agreed to be our alternates on Gilas,” Cone said.

“The first window showed us that we were a little thin in our lineup after AJ Edu, June Mar and Jamie [Malonzo] missed our game vs. Chinese Taipei due to injuries, and we were left with only nine players and only Japeth as a replacement to make 10.”

The 6-foot-9 Aguilar and 6-foot-7 Amos will join the current 12-man pool that includes Justin Brownlee, Kai Sotto, Scottie Thompson, Dwight Ramos, Calvin Oftana, CJ Perez, Chris Newsome, Carl Tamayo, Jamie Malonzo, Kevin Quiambao, Fajardo, and Edu.

Aguilar has been a mainstay of the national team and was even part of the squad that clinched the gold medal during the Asian Games while Amos had previously suited up for the national team in the World Cup qualifiers and before that, the FIBA U18 Championship in 2022.

Cone said Aguilar and Amos will backstop the national team in preparation for the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in early July.

“So now, Japeth and Mason will practice and travel with the original 12 and be ready to step in if the need arises,” Cone added.

“If we lose one of our bigs, Japeth will step in. If any of the others, Mason will fill the hole. Mason, too, because of his youth, projects as one of the regulars over time.”

—JMB, GMA Integrated News