By Darryl John Esguerra
MANILA – Gilas Pilipinas will open its FIBA Asia Cup 2025 campaign against a familiar foe in Chinese Taipei on August 6 (Manila Time) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The official schedule was officially released on social media on Wednesday.
The nationals will go up against Chinese Taipei in the final game of opening day at 9 p.m. Jeddah time (2 a.m. Manila Time).
Gilas will then take on another familiar foe in world No. 22 New Zealand on August 7 at 6 p.m. (11 p.m. Manila Time).
The world No. 34 Gilas will wrap up its Group D games against Iraq on Aug. 9 at 11 a.m. (4 p.m. Manila Time).
Gilas has faced Chinese Taipei and New Zealand in the qualifiers of the continental tilt.
Against New Zealand, Gilas made history in November 2024 by defeating the Tall Blacks for the first time in a FIBA-sanctioned tournament in Manila, 93-89.
However, the Kiwis exacted revenge on their home turf when they defeated the Filipinos, who played minus their injured star center Kai Sotto, 87-70, in Auckland.
The same story goes in Gilas’ head-to-head match up against Chinese Taipei.
Gilas opened its qualifying campaign in dominant fashion with a 106-53 blowout of Chinese Taipei at home in February last year. But Chinese Taipei bounced back on their home court and handed Gilas a 91-84 loss almost a year later.
The top team in each group will earn an outright ticket to the quarterfinals set on Aug. 13 and 14, while the second and third seeds must battle through a qualification round to join the final eight.
From there, the winners of the quarterfinals will advance to the semifinals on Aug. 16. The final and third-place matches will be on Aug. 17.
The Philippines will look to improve from its 9th place finish in the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup campaign in Indonesia. (PNA)
