Gilas Pilipinas is giving back to its loyal supporters with a special Fans Day featuring an open practice at the Filoil EcoOil Center in San Juan, Manila, as the national basketball team prepares for the third FIBA World Cup Asia qualifying window.
The event comes on the heels of the PBA Commissioner Cup conclusion, allowing the full Gilas squad to finally reunite and train together. Head coach Tim Cone, who just led Barangay Ginebra to the PBA championship, expressed his gratitude to fans across the country.
“We are doing this for the fans, to thank them for their unwavering support. I think this team will bring us special moments and pull in a surprise along the way,” Cone said.
The Gilas roster features a mix of veteran and rising talent, including Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, Carl Tamayo, Kevin Quiambao, Justine Baltazar, Mike Phillips, Chris Newsome, June Mar Fajardo, Juan Gomez de Liaño, Troy Rosario, RJ Abarrientos, and naturalized player Justin Brownlee. Assistant coaches LA Tenorio, Sean Chambers, and Jong Uichico are also part of the coaching staff.
After the Fans Day event in Manila, the team will head to Brisbane, Australia for a four-day training camp designed to help players acclimatize to the colder conditions they will face in New Zealand. The temperature will gradually transition from Manila weather to Brisbane temperate climate and eventually to 12-14 degrees Celsius in Auckland.
From Brisbane, Gilas will travel to Wellington for a friendly match against the Manawatu Jets and then to Auckland for another tune-up game against the Franklin Bulls before facing New Zealand on July 3 and Australia on July 6 in the crucial FIBA World Cup qualifying window.
Basketball fans in Manila are encouraged to come out and show their support for Gilas Pilipinas as the team embarks on its journey to qualify for the FIBA World Cup. The open practice and press conference promise an exciting afternoon for Philippine basketball enthusiasts.
Related: More Manila Sports News and Updates
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