Manila: Gilas Pilipinas Men and the Macau Black Bears are scheduled to face off on July 28 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum as part of their preparation for the upcoming 2025 FIBA Asia Cup. This tune-up game will also serve as a send-off event for Gilas Pilipinas before they depart for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

According to Philippines News Agency, Gilas Pilipinas is grouped with New Zealand, Chinese Taipei, and Iraq for the first round of the FIBA Asia Cup, which is set to take place from August 5 to 17. The Macau Black Bears team is a mix of local talents, mixed heritage players, and imports, providing strong competition for Gilas.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) President Al Panlilio emphasized the importance of playing tune-up games before the team embarks on their FIBA Asia Cup campaign. He noted that it offers Gilas valuable competition and gives fans an opportunity to support the team before they leave for Saudi Arabia. The preparation period is brief, as many players recently participated in the semifinals of the Philippine Cup, prompting the SBP to arrange this tune-up match.

The Macau Black Bears have a history of competing against national teams, having defeated the Chinese squad 83-78 last year. Gilas coach Tim Cone, who led the Philippine team to a gold medal victory at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, acknowledged the strength of the Black Bears, citing their good imports and the potential for an interesting friendly match.

Coached by Garrett Kelly, the Macau Black Bears compete in the East Asia Super League. Previously known as Chong Son Kung Fu, the team played in the ASEAN Basketball League from 2017 to 2018. Gilas Pilipinas aims to improve on their ninth-place finish in the last edition of the FIBA Asia Cup, though they will face the Black Bears without Kai Sotto, who is recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.