Gilas Pilipinas Narrows Training Pool Ahead of FIBA World Cup Qualifiers

Gilas Pilipinas has reduced its training pool from an original 18 players to 15 in preparation for the first window of the FIBA World Cup Asia qualifiers. Key absences from the list include Kai Sotto, Calvin Oftana, and naturalized player Ange Kouame, all of whom are currently ineligible to participate owing to various reasons.

This adjustment means that head coach Tim Cone now faces the task of trimming three more players to form the Final 12 roster, which will compete in Guam on November 28, 2025. Cone emphasized that if Sotto and Oftana were eligible, both would likely secure spots on the final team.

The current 15-man training lineup includes Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, Jamie Malonzo, naturalized player Justine Brownlee, June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Chris Newsome, Troy Rosario, RJ Abbarientos, Dwight Ramos, Quentin Millora-Brown, Juan Gomez De Liano, Carl Tamayo, AJ Edu, and Kevin Quiambao.

"We’re 15 basically and we got to cut to 12. We’re only taking 12 to Guam with us. But we’re 15 right now. These are going to be difficult decisions obviously," Cone stated.

Despite the final roster reduction, Cone assured that those who do not make the Guam trip will remain part of the national program moving forward.