Gilas Pilipinas Falls to Chinese Taipei: A Wake-Up Call, Not a Justification for Criticism
Gilas Pilipinas suffered a stunning 91-84 loss to Chinese Taipei in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers, a defeat that marked the country's first setback in the tournament. Given that Gilas dominated Chinese Taipei by 53 points last year, this result shocked Filipino basketball fans and sparked immediate backlash online.
Despite the outcry, head coach Tim Cone quickly took full responsibility for the loss, acknowledging that he should have prepared the team better for a much-improved opponent.
“No one feels worse about this devastating loss than I do, and I take full responsibility for it,” Cone posted on X (formerly Twitter).
“We knew they were going to be much improved from the last time we played them, but they were even better than we thought. That’s on me. No doubt, I should have prepared us better.”
Chinese Taipei’s Overhaul and Gilas' Rotation Woes
Chinese Taipei was not the same team Gilas crushed in 2023. Only three players remained from that previous roster, and they introduced seven-footer Brandon Gilbeck and Mohammad Al Gadlaga, alongside a deadly three-point shooting crew that buried 15 triples.
Gilas, on the other hand, struggled with turnovers (17-7) and had key players like Japeth Aguilar, Jamie Malonzo, and Kevin Quiambao sitting on the bench the entire game. CJ Perez and Carl Tamayo were barely used, which led many fans to question Cone’s short rotation.
Cone admitted he made some miscalculations.
“There is obviously a lot that I would have done differently in that game if given another chance, but that is not possible now.”
Backlash Against Gilas: A Disservice to the Program
The loss comes after back-to-back blowout defeats to Lebanon and Egypt in the Doha Cup Invitational, further fueling the narrative that Gilas is regressing. Some critics even labeled the loss as a “gigantic choke job”, comparing it to the struggles of previous national teams after Tab Baldwin’s departure.
But while frustration is understandable, the level of criticism Gilas and Coach Tim Cone are receiving is not acceptable.
Gilas is in a transition period, dealing with player availability issues, chemistry challenges, and adjustments under Cone’s system. This was a single loss in a long qualification process—not a reflection of total failure. Even powerhouse programs like the USA and Spain suffer unexpected defeats, yet their fans and federations do not overreact in the same way.
Moving Forward: Lessons, Not Overreactions
Yes, Gilas should learn from this loss, particularly in terms of scouting, rotation management, and defensive adjustments. But the solution is not to pile unnecessary negativity onto the team. Tim Cone has proven his ability to win at the highest level, and this setback is part of the growth process.
Filipino basketball fans are passionate, but this passion must be constructive rather than destructive. Instead of calling for drastic changes after one loss, the focus should be on how Gilas can bounce back stronger.
After all, qualification for the FIBA Asia Cup is still well within reach, and Gilas’ journey is far from over.
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