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Gilas 12 in Doha?: Japeth and Kai Are Out—Why Focus on AJ Edu?

 

Gilas Pilipinas 12 man for Doha
Gilas Pilipinas 12 man for Doha , Photo Courtesy of FIBA

Excitement for the 2nd Doha International Cup

Curious and excited about the 2nd Doha International Cup? While winning is always fun, I’ll be watching closely how Gilas Pilipinas executes plays—especially since the team will be missing one of the Philippines' most popular big men, Kai Sotto.


Gilas Pilipinas’ 12-Man Roster for Doha

Although not officially announced, you don’t have to be a genius to predict who will make up the 12-man roster for Doha.

With 14 players available and Kai Sotto ruled out due to injury, plus Coach Tim Cone confirming in an ABS-CBN Sports interview that Japeth Aguilar won’t be joining the team in Doha, then simple math tells us that these are the 12 warriors heading into battle:

Chris Newsome
Scottie Thompson
June Mar Fajardo
CJ Perez
Calvin Oftana
Mason Amos
Dwight Ramos
Kevin Quiambao
Justin Brownlee
Carl Tamayo
Jaime Malonzo
Troy Rosario

Unless Coach Tim has a secret backup plan or a hidden pool of players, then this is Gilas Pilipinas' roster for Doha.


Doha Is for Development

Coach Tim Cone has made it clear—he’s focused on developing AJ Edu. The reason? Edu needs more games with Gilas Pilipinas. Unlike most of his teammates, he has yet to fully integrate into Tim Cone’s system. Everyone else has already played for Gilas recently and is part of the winning squad. Most of them also play in the PBA and for Ginebra, so they are already familiar with Cone’s style—except Edu.


Big Plans for AJ Edu

I’m guessing Edu will play a crucial role in the team's rotation moving forward. With Kai Sotto out, he will likely take on a bigger role as Gilas’ defensive anchor. At 6’10, Edu is a pivotal big man who will provide much-needed size and rim protection.

While June Mar Fajardo remains a reliable veteran, he can’t carry the load alone. Beyond Fajardo and Edu, no other players are taller, making their presence even more important. Typically, Gilas’ center rotation features Fajardo, Kai Sotto, and Japeth Aguilar—but in Doha, it will be all about Fajardo and Edu.


Carl Tamayo’s Bigger Role

Coach Tim Cone also made special mention of Carl Tamayo during his interview. Expect Tamayo to get more minutes and opportunities as he takes on some of the scoring responsibilities left behind by Kai Sotto. With his versatility and offensive skill set, he’ll be a key player to watch.


We’ll Miss Kai Sotto—Even Tim Cone Knows That

Love him or hate him, Kai Sotto’s absence will be felt. Even Coach Tim Cone acknowledges this. His size, rim protection, and ability to stretch the floor make him one of Gilas’ most unique weapons. But while we may miss him, this tournament is about adapting and finding new ways to win.


The Bigger Picture

The Doha Tournament will be Coach Tim Cone’s first real test in crafting a new-look Gilas Pilipinas. With young, promising talents onboard, his job is to keep winning and build chemistry for the team’s long-term success.

While the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers have no bearing (since we’re already qualified), anticipation is building up for the February 23 game in Auckland against New Zealand. Gilas Pilipinas wants to prove they can defeat the Tall Blacks again—this time without Kai Sotto.

A win would silence the doubters and give the team even more confidence heading into the FIBA Asia Cup in August 2025.

💭 What do you think? Can Gilas take down New Zealand again—even without our 7’3” big man? Let’s discuss! 🇵🇭🏀

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