NEEDING two more wins to advance, Gilas Pilipinas will have big men Japeth Aguilar and Mason Amos filling in for two injured players.
Aguilar and Amos will take the place of AJ Edu and Jamie Malonzo for their coming games in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.
Edu and Malonzo won’t be available when Gilas sees action against New Zealand on Thursday and against Hong Kong on Sunday, both at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Coach Tim Cone said Aguilar and Amos have joined the practices and will most likely be fielded in.
“Jamie, for sure, is not available, and AJ is doubtful. And that’s why Japeth and Mason are around. Japeth understands, he knows the system, and he can step in immediately, and Mason, he went through the whole OQT, but he did not get minutes. But he is important in the everyday work in practice,” said Cone.
Despite their condition, Cone is still letting the two injured players join the practices.
Cone said he wants Edu and Malonzo to be ready for their next set of games in February.
Edu is recovering from a knee injury he suffered from a B. League game.
Malonzo will be sitting out the two games, as he continues to go through rehabilitation from the calf injury that he suffered during the eliminations of the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup while playing for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
“AJ is still a young player. There is still a huge future with AJ. We want to integrate him in the program. We want him to understand what we are doing. And we want him to create chemistry with his teammates,” said Cone.
Cone feels that Malonzo isn’t ready to play, but he will be in future games.
“This is a process that we go through with all the players. Young guys like AJ are important. He and Jamie will be at the camp. But they will immerse themselves in watching videos, hearing discussions and practices on the floor,” added Cone.
Gilas has a 2-0 win-loss record after beating Hong Kong, 94-64, and Chinese Taipei, 106-63, last February in the first window.
The New Zealand Tall Blacks, who are bringing in new coach Jude Flavell, have also posted two triumphs against Chinese Taipei, 89-69, and Hong Kong, 88-49.
