Gilas Pilipinas went to Qatar last week to try to test their system and gain valuable experience. But after finishing 1-2 in the 2nd Doha International Cup, coach Tim Cone may have left with more questions than answers.
The national team opened the tournament with a gritty win over host nation Qatar but struggled in their next two outings against Lebanon and Egypt, exposing lingering issues in execution, defense, and overall cohesion. With a mix of veterans and young talent, Gilas aimed to use this stint as a stepping stone, but did they maximize the opportunity, or did the trip highlight more problems than progress?
Inconsistencies in their performance raised concerns about their readiness for the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers and FIBA Asia Cup in August.
Here's a look of what worked, what didn't, and what it means moving forward for Gilas.
AJ Edu's impressive return
After nearly two years away from the national team, Edu made his presence felt in a big way, especially in the clutch, as Gilas mounted a comeback to defeat Qatar. His box score numbers -- six points, 10 rebounds, and two assists -- may not jump out, but his impact was undeniable. Edu made the right reads on both ends of the floor, playing a crucial role in Gilas' dominant 23-11 fourth quarter.
Whether making the correct decisions on offense or positioning himself to defend the pick-and-roll in drop coverage, Edu's basketball IQ was on full display. While fans will have to wait longer to see the much-anticipated frontcourt pairing of Kai Sotto and Edu, his presence helps fill the void left by Sotto's absence. He may not be a go-to scorer in the post, but his defensive versatility allows Gilas to experiment with faster, more switchable lineups.
In three games in Doha, Edu averaged six points, eight rebounds, and one assist while shooting an efficient 53.3% from the field. More than just his numbers, his ability to anchor the defense and provide stability in the paint makes him an invaluable piece for the national team going into the final Asia Cup window.
(Still) Less action for the young players
The Doha tournament could have been the perfect opportunity to assess the development of young players within Cone's system -- particularly, how well they can execute the triangle offense. However, that wasn't the case, as promising talents like Carl Tamayo, Kevin Quiambao, and even Mason Amos saw limited court time.
Quiambao and Tamayo, averaged just 13.9 and 12 minutes per game, respectively -- far from ideal for players who could be key contributors in the future. With Gilas already securing qualification for the FIBA Asia Cup, this tournament presented a low-stakes environment where the coaching staff could have experimented and given these young prospects extended minutes. Instead, they were largely relegated to the bench, missing a valuable chance to gain international experience and further integrate into the system.
Balancing player development and winning should have been a focus, especially in games where the outcome carried little consequence. The lack of opportunities for these young players raises questions about how Gilas plans to prepare its next generation of talent.
Overdependence to Justin Brownlee and locals' struggles
Coming off a grueling three-game quarterfinal series against Meralco, Justin had only a few days to recover before stepping back on the floor to carry the offensive load for Gilas. Despite a slow start in the first three quarters against Qatar, he still managed to average 16.3 points, seven rebounds, and 2.3 assists on a 52.2% true shooting percentage across 31.7 minutes per game.
The initial plan was to manage Brownlee's workload throughout the tournament. However, the underwhelming performance from local players forced Cone to lean heavily on him. Yet even Brownlee's efforts weren't enough, as Gilas suffered lopsided losses to Lebanon and Egypt. The team's struggles without Brownlee were glaring: Gilas shot just 27.8% from the field (25/90) in both defeats, highlighting their offensive inefficiency. Even more concerning was their inability to generate ball movement, averaging just 12.7 assists across three games -- a stark contrast to the hallmark of any Cone-led squad.
At 35 years old and coming off a taxing schedule, Brownlee cannot carry the scoring burden by himself every game. The locals must step up -- not just to improve the team's overall performance, but to preserve Brownlee's energy for games that matter.
Whether it's being more aggressive in creating their own shots, making smarter reads in the offense, or simply knocking down open looks, Gilas' local core needs to find ways to contribute more consistently. Brownlee remains the team's leader, but if Gilas is to succeed in the long run, the supporting cast must ease his load rather than add to it.