MANILA, Philippines — Gilas Pilipinas struggled in the final window of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers, suffering consecutive losses to Taiwan and New Zealand, as they adjusted to playing without Kai Sotto, who is out due to a torn ACL.
Head coach Tim Cone acknowledged the difficulty of filling the void left by the 7-foot-3 center, whose presence had been a game-changer for the team.
“We lost a really, obviously, key, key player for a year in terms of Kai Sotto. So we’re still trying to adjust how to play without him. That’s the things we’re gonna be talking about and thinking about as we go into the FIBA Asia Cup,” Cone said after Gilas’ 87-70 loss to New Zealand in Auckland on Sunday.
Sotto had been a crucial factor in Gilas’ 93-89 victory over the Tall Blacks in their first meeting last November, delivering 19 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, and two blocks in a hard-fought battle at the Mall of Asia Arena. Without him in the rematch, New Zealand dominated inside, led by Tohi Smith-Milner, who finished with 25 points, nine rebounds, and two assists.
The loss meant that New Zealand clinched the top spot in Group B with a 5-1 record, while the Philippines settled for second place at 4-2. This result gives Gilas a more difficult path in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025.
“This was important for seeding, so we really wanted to get that seeding. But that’s now going to go to New Zealand. We’re going to have a tougher road through that Cup. That’s something that’s uppermost in our minds as well,” Cone added.
As part of their preparations, Gilas also participated in the 2nd Doha Invitational Cup in Qatar, where they secured a 74-71 win over Qatar but suffered heavy defeats against Lebanon (75-54) and Egypt (86-55).
Despite the recent struggles, Cone remains focused on long-term preparations for the FIBA Asia Cup 2025, which will take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, this August.
“We were trying to look at a bigger picture in terms of the FIBA Asia coming up because we know we’re not going to have much time, maybe eight, 10 days at most to prepare for that tournament,” Cone explained.
“So everything we do, just like coach Judd saying, it’s cumulative. It’s cumulative experiences. We are trying to take each window as an experience and move it onto the next one and onto the next one, and hopefully grow it and improve.”
With only a few months left before the tournament, Gilas will need to find ways to adapt without Sotto and strengthen their game to improve their chances in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025.
