As Gilas Pilipinas Men gears up for their FIBA Asia Cup 2025 campaign, growing geopolitical tension in the Middle East has cast a shadow of uncertainty over the tournament’s staging in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Head coach Tim Cone voiced concerns over the safety and viability of holding the tournament in a region on edge following the latest escalation in the Iran-Israel conflict.
The FIBA Asia Cup is set for August 5 to 17, featuring 16 national teams.
“We’re not trying to make too big of a deal out of it right now, but with everything going on in the Middle East — especially with what happened between Israel, the United States, and Iran — we’re wondering whether we’ll still be playing in Jeddah,” Cone said on Power and Play hosted by Noli Eala.
“Whether the venue will change or not is something we’re monitoring closely with FIBA.”
Tensions flared further after reports that Israeli and American forces struck Iranian nuclear facilities — moves that sparked diplomatic outrage and heightened fears of retaliatory action.
The region’s instability has prompted the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas to keep a close eye on developments that could impact the tournament.
“Our top priority is the safety of the players, coaches, and staff,” Cone emphasized.
“There’s just a lot going on in that area right now, and we want to make sure the situation doesn’t put anyone at risk.”
Despite the looming uncertainties, Gilas are proceeding with its preparations.
The national squad is ready to begin weekly Monday training sessions on June 30 — an earlier start than initially planned to ensure more cohesion heading into the continental tournament.
Cone revealed that the team aims to squeeze in 18 practice sessions, including two-a-day workouts and tune-up matches, before flying to Saudi Arabia.
“If I’m not in the PBA finals with Ginebra, I’ll handle the practices myself. If I am, Richard del Rosario and Sean Chambers will take over. Either way, we’re getting started early,” said Cone.
(C) FIBA.basketball
Justin Brownlee is also expected to be in harness by the start of practices, having recovered from a thumb injury sustained in the Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
Overseas-based Dwight Ramos, Carl Tamayo, Kevin Quiambao, and AJ Edu are likewise set to join the team during their offseason.
Cone is particularly focused on rebuilding the team’s chemistry, which he admits suffered during the last window, where Gilas dropped back-to-back games against New Zealand and Chinese Taipei.
“In my mind, practice time is more important than the number of games we play before the tournament,” Cone said.
“We tried to learn on the fly last time, and it didn’t work. Now, we want to lock in, refine our system, and build better habits.”
In line with the preparation, Gilas will stage a send-off friendly against the Macau Black Bears at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, tentatively scheduled for July 28 or 29.
Originally, Gilas had hoped to play the Jericho Cruz-led Guam, but logistics issues forced a shift in plans.
“We tried to get Guam here, but they could only meet in Jeddah, so that didn’t work out,” said Cone.
“Now, it’s looking like we’ll face Macau. They’ve beaten the Chinese national team, and they’ve got three imports — one of whom might be Jeremy Lin. That’s going to be a good test for us.”
Another possible friendly match is in the works upon Gilas’ arrival in Jeddah, tentatively slated for August 2, against a team already training there.
The Philippines is grouped with Chinese Taipei, New Zealand, and Iraq in the group stage.
They begin their campaign on August 6 against Taipei, followed by a clash with the Tall Blacks on August 8, and a match against Iraq on August 10.
However, the overarching concern remains whether the tournament will even take place in Jeddah — or if FIBA will relocate the event due to the escalating regional crisis.
