Gilas: Versatility expected to be key, with Scottie Thompson and AJ Edu ruled out of FIBA OQT

Versatility has always been the name of the game for Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone.

In the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers, Japeth Aguilar was called back to national team duty to replace the injured June Mar Fajardo and AJ Edu.

For the upcoming FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Latvia, a few players are also expected to miss the flight to Riga.

One is point guard Scottie Thompson, who is still dealing with back issues since the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers last February.

"Still the back injury that bothered him last conference. No replacement so far," Gilas team manager Richard del Rosario confirmed to One Sports.

[ALSO READ: PBA: Scottie Thompson expected to miss more Ginebra games because of back issues] 

Another is AJ Edu, who was heralded by coach Tim Cone as his "big man stopper" against the likes of Latvia's Kristaps Porzingis and possibly Goga Bitadze of Georgia.

Back in May, Cone shared that Edu was nearing the completion of his knee rehabilitation.

"He's at the very edge of his ending of the rehab process. He's going from Japan to London, and he has a physiotherapist there that he will continue to work with," Cone shared in an interview with Carlo Pamintuan last month. "So he should be fine and ready to go on the 21st, that's a good sign."

[ALSO READ: 'Big man stopper' AJ Edu on track for Gilas return ahead of FIBA OQT, says Tim Cone] 

However, del Rosario confirmed on Friday that AJ won't make it for the OQT.

Jamie Malonzo is also expected to be out, as he continues to recover from a calf injury sustained from the recently-concluded PBA Philippine Cup.

[ALSO READ: PBA: Jamie Malonzo gives update on injury, shows support for Ginebra in Game 6] 

So where does that leave Gilas Pilipinas in a very crucial competition offering only a single berth to the Olympic Games Paris 2024?

For the big man position, Ateneo Blue Eagles' Mason Amos was seen attending practice at Inspire.

"He's our 13th man," Cone said of Amos in the interview with Pamintuan. "He's going to travel with us and practice with us. And if he needs to step in, he will step in. So it's another young guy. He'll be the youngest guy on the team, I think, like 19 years old."

[ALSO READ: Japeth Aguilar, Mason Amos included in Gilas Pilipinas pool amid recent team injuries] 

And who else to step up for the main point guard position than newly-minted PBA Finals MVP Chris Newsome?

If there's anyone who's gonna be embodying versatility--it's him.

And the players for this iteration of the Philippine men's national basketball team were specifically chosen for their two-way skills.

Newsome can definitely explode for 40 points. But he was chosen for a different skillset.

"Chris is really our backcourt stopper," Cone said, recalling how Newsome defended against Jordan's Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. "That commitment, he's going to be a committed defender. That's going to be his absolute priority."

"He's not going to worry about scoring or passing. He's just going to lock into a guy that we need and he's got good size for the back court. And it just seemed it came to be a really good fit for what we do," the tactician added.

[ALSO READ: Tim Cone explains PBA Finals MVP Chris Newsome's role for Gilas Pilipinas in FIBA OQT, Asia Cup Qualifiers] 

And in this period where Gilas Pilipinas is missing a few pieces, it's going to be all about fluidity.

"Today, we have our most versatile team to date," Newsome shared after the practice at Inspire. "Guys can play multiple positions, really a positionless offense."

"Coach says we have to be ready to play all spots. Even guards are gonna be in the post, bigs can be on the wings. It's gonna be fun for these guys to explore their game," he added.

@onesportsphl

GET AN INSIDE LOOK 👀 The Gilas Pilipinas Men continue to put in the work in preparation for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Latvia this July. #OSQuickRun #GilasPilipinas

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Gilas will take on host Latvia on July 4, before facing George in July 5 in the group stage. Only the winner of the OQT will head to Paris 2024.

(With reports from Jan Ballesteros/One Sports)