What is the significance of the February window? *If we are already qualified
Confidence booster.
Beating the Kiwis is always a big deal.
Losing to Taiwan isn’t great PR wise.
The SBP doesn’t want flak from the public like what happened with Chot.
The Gilas program profits by having a strong fanbase with positive reception. They have that currently with CTC and, arguably, Long Hair.
My main concern with winning/losing in the 3rd Window is its impact on our rankings
See,we hate losing,we even care about that,thinking that other Asian countries above us don't deserved to be there,it should be us.
Where is it implied other Asian countries not to be there? While not a totality, rankings are good assessment of the programs. When we slipped, it truly was reflective of how the program went downhill. We went from 32 in 2021 to 38 in 2023. If we do bad in the third Window to the point of losing to CT and NZ beating us by 20-40 points, that meant we got lazy and overconfident simply because we have secured our spot.
FIBA has way more weight than the SEA Games. Rules in the SEA Games are set by the host country so it can be rigged to their favor (again, we also do this when we are host).
Yes, true. It's pretty much the same format. Last window of ACQ will be an interesting one as the Kazakhstan/India, Guam/Mongolia, Iraq/Palestine, and UAE/Syria battle it out for the final qualifying tournament. We'll get to see some first times for the WCQ and traditional ones not make it.
Based on the current rankings, the pots could go like this:
Pot 1: Australia + Japan
Pot 2: Iran + Lebanon
Pot 3: New Zealand + China
Pot 4: Jordan + KSA
Pot 5: Philippines + Korea
Pot 6: Qatar + Bahrain
Pot 7: Guam/Mongolia + Taiwan/Thailand
Pot 8: India/Kazakhstan + UAE/Syria
There's a possibility (if the rankings stay unchanged) that Australia and New Zealand could be drawn in the same group in the first round.
Best case scenario:
Japan
China
Philippines
Mongolia/Guam
Worst case scenario:
Australia
New Zealand
Philippines
Taiwan
We need to improve our rankings by placing high in the Asia Cup.
We might need at least a semifinal appearance in this Asia Cup to help our rankings and maybe get better matchups in the World Cup windows.
with the latest situation reaching the medal rounds is the best that our team can do.
before the main and only option is to aim to reclaim that FIBA Asia trophy nothing less
because we already had the tools to get along with AUS Team B and NZL's Team B as well.
with Kai and AJ spearheading our frontline alongside JMF, Carl and JB
unless Grandpa Chualay uses his full audacity to get an exemption to AK34 which is already ripe
and QMB's claimed that he had this green covered document since he was still a child
well at least it lessen our worrisome with the absence of Kai and AJ's not yet reaching his full momentum yet.
Also, will the team go with Boatwright immediately or stick to JB?
The guy will turn 37 this year.
Semis is doable. Finals will depend if Australia isn't in our bracket.
I honestly don't see any team beating them aside from full-team Japan.
I don't see Tim risking Kai for this tournament, which makes the task of beating the Boomers harder.
And we need to win our group to increase our chances of not facing Aussie until at least the semifinal.
I'm inclined to believe with how Cone has been stubborn since the SMC takeover of Gilas that even with losing both qualifiers in Taipei and Auckland, they still have a good shot of winning FIBA Asia as long as they get everyone including Edu and Malonzo healthy. There's no way that Australia team that played in the Olympics with Giddey, Daniels, and Green (too bad they drew Canada and Greece) is showing up for FIBA Asia. Not sure if Hachimura is on a contract year, but even if he isn't... he's not playing as well. Same with Kawamura who might be looking to stay in the NBA.
The bad news is that FIBA Asia region is really competitive now that even the sabog teams like Qatar and Thailand are capable of pulling off group play upsets. China on a rebuild was a three-pointer away from taking a B-League All Star Team to overtime. Just unfortunate that FIBA likes to keep things balanced per region so I won't be shocked if Gilas will be grouped with a South Korea or China unless the luck of the draw makes them play a West Asian team that's not Jordan/Iran/Lebanon.
Gilas should not be consumed with luck of draw. They should be masters of their own destiny regardless outcome of the draw. As long as they will give their all during FIBA Asia Cup games I would be happy…
The goal is to make the 2028 Olympics. To do that, we need to be the highest-placed Asian team in the 2027 World Cup. Finishing high in this Asia Cup might help smoothen the process of qualifying for the World Cup and thus qualifying for the Olympics.
our Gold Medal aspiration against the AUS Team B hit a snag with Kai's ligament issue, however, we could still targeting that medal rounds if only ED Erica Dy and PD Chualay had something
on their sleeves to boast our frontline and other pieces to somehow fill the big shoes vacated temporarily by Kai.
Gilas is still solid because of CTC and his system and adding a few upgrade are already mentioned without compromising too much
the HC's stand that he only wants "a lean pool" moving forward.
we do hope AJ, Jaime, DR, Carl, Scooty 2 Hooty and JB are in good working condition come the actual dance.
otherwise forget that possible medal round games against the likes of AUS, NZL, JAP, CHI, LEB. SK and JOR
those teams are the thorns of our campaign for this edition.
I'm not discounting other teams as well esp. those in the ME group they are a big headache as well
esp. with the news about some was given an exemption to strengthen and beef up their program.
now if SBP doesn't play their cards right in 5 or 6 months time
"bawi na lang talaga on the SEAG and 2026 AG instead
our Gold Medal aspiration against the AUS Team B hit a snag with Kai's ligament issue, however, we could still targeting that medal rounds if only ED Erica Dy and PD Chualay had something
on their sleeves to boast our frontline and other pieces to somehow fill the big shoes vacated temporarily by Kai.
Gilas is still solid because of CTC and his system and adding a few upgrade are already mentioned without compromising too much
the HC's stand that he only wants "a lean pool" moving forward.
we do hope AJ, Jaime, DR, Carl, Scooty 2 Hooty and JB are in good working condition come the actual dance.
otherwise forget that possible medal round games against the likes of AUS, NZL, JAP, CHI, LEB. SK and JOR
those teams are the thorns of our campaign for this edition.
I'm not discounting other teams as well esp. those in the ME group they are a big headache as well
esp. with the news about some was given an exemption to strengthen and beef up their program.
now if SBP doesn't play their cards right in 5 or 6 months time
"bawi na lang talaga on the SEAG and 2026 AG instead
When does the 2024-2025 PBA season ends?
Probably mid July... AFC schedule will start by April and playoffs might start at June..
Asia Cup's on August 5. If the PBA ends on mid-July, that's too little time to rest and prepare for the Asia Cup.