Back once more in Gilas, Edu is making believers with his inspired play.
There is little doubt that big man AJ Edu made quite an impression in Gilas Pilipinas’ four games at the Heyuan WUS International Basketball Tournament in China. And a lot of Gilas fans seem to have been pleasantly surprised by the 23-year-old’s breakout games against Iran and Senegal.
Not at all surprised, however, is Gilas coach Chot Reyes, who had previously emphasized to the national team the need to play its best basketball come the FIBA World Cup to have a chance at winning.
“With AJ, we’ve always known what he can bring to the team. It’s just that not a lot of other Filipinos know it, they’re not really familiar with him,” Reyes said when asked by News 5’s Martie Bautista about Edu’s sterling showing in China. “But we’ve had him in the program since he was in the under-18 team.”
Edu made his national team debut at the FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup before playing for Batang Gilas in the 2018 FIBA U18 Asian Championship, where he posted per game averages of 14.2 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks playing alongside Kai Sotto.
Unfortunately, Edu suffered consecutive knee injuries starting in 2019, when he tore his right ACL at the FIBA U19 World Cup. He then tore a meniscus in 2020 playing for the Toledo Rockets, before tearing his left ACL in 2021 while practicing for the same US NCAA Division 1 school.
Now back in the Gilas program, Edu is once again showing out—and he may have just put himself in prime consideration for Gilas’ FIBA World Cup lineup.
“The way he played was exactly what we knew he could contribute to the team—his defense and his ability to do a lot of other things,” Reyes added. “And if he makes his three-point shots, that’s a huge bonus for us. But he’s always been able to make that shot.”
He has shown he can make that long ball, hitting a few booming triples in China. Maybe he just needs the opportunity to show more—this time in front of Filipino fans.