Kasado na ang tuneup game ng Gilas at Macau sa July

MANILA, Philippines — Kasado na ang friendly game ng Gilas Pilipinas at Macau Black Bears na malaki ang maitutulong sa preparasyon ng Pinoy squad para sa 2025 FIBA Asia Cup na gaganapin sa Jeddah, Saudi Arabia sa Agosto.

Planong idaos ang Gilas Pilipinas-Macau game sa Smart Araneta Coliseum sa huling bahagi ng Hulyo na magsisilbi na ring send-off bago lumipad ang tropa sa Saudi Arabia.

“I think we are trying to get the Araneta Coliseum. That’s kind of a send-off for the fans before we leave,” sabi ni Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone sa programang Power and Play.

Orihinal na plano ang tuneup game ng Gilas Pi­lipinas laban sa Guam na­tio­nal team.

May koneksiyon ang Sa­mahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) sa Guam da­hil doon naglalaro si San Miguel Beer player Jericho Cruz.

“We had Guam originally coming in but something happened and it turned out that they can only meet in Jeddah. We weren’t able to bring them here. They were going to come here and then go to Jeddah, but they couldn’t do it,” ani Cone.

Magandang pagkaka­taon ang tuneup game ng Gilas kontra sa Macau Bears na armado ng mala­lakas na players dahil sa ka­nilang mga imports.

Tinalo ng Macau Bears ang Chinese national team sa isang tuneup game.

Posible pang maglaro si dating NBA star Jeremy Lin na bahagi ng Macau Bears.

“They beat up on the Chi­nese national team. They are really strong, they’ve got three imports, one of which might be Je­remy Lin, could be a very, very interesting friendly for us,” ani Cone.

Hangad ni Cone na ma­ihanda nang husto ang Gilas Pilipinas na nasa Group D kasama ang powerhouse New Zealand, Chinese-Taipei at Iraq.