Fajardo, Perez, Oftana join Gilas for Asia Cup after PBA finals

Three PBA Philippine Cup finalists — June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, and Calvin Oftana from San Miguel Beer — are set to join Gilas Pilipinas for the upcoming 2025 FIBA Asia Cup in Saudi Arabia.

Fajardo and Oftana, who are recovering from injuries sustained during the PBA finals, will not play in the send-off match against Macau Black Bears on Monday due to their need for rest. CJ Perez, however, is injury-free but will see limited minutes in the game.

Despite their fatigue following a grueling All-Filipino finals series, both Fajardo and Perez expressed excitement about representing the country, with Oftana emphasizing the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Fajardo plans to support the team during friendly matches before resting for the Asia Cup, while Perez is eager to play in a more significant capacity. The match will also feature ex-University of the Philippines standout Quentin Millora-Brown playing for Macau Black Bears.

Gilas Pilipinas' roster includes established players like Justin Brownlee and Scottie Thompson, alongside new additions RJ Abarrientos and Rhenz Abando, though Kai Sotto will miss the tournament due to an ACL injury.