Gilas Philippines advances to FIBA Asia Cup quarterfinals despite challenges

Gilas Philippines advanced to the quarterfinals of the FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah despite facing numerous challenges.

Coach Tim Cone's squad battled with a limited roster due to injuries and player availability, including key players like Jamie Malonzo, Calvin Oftana, and CJ Perez who saw minimal playing time.

Defending against three-point shots was particularly difficult for Gilas, as they allowed an average of 11.6 threes per game while scoring only seven themselves, resulting in a significant points deficit.

Only three players averaged double-digit points: Justin Brownlee (20.6), Dwight Ramos (16.8), and Kevin Quiambao (12). AJ Edu led the team in rebounds with an average of nine per game.

Gilas struggled against strong teams like Australia and New Zealand, highlighting the need for a younger, quicker roster with better three-point shooting accuracy for future competitions.