Gilas Pilipinas began training for the upcoming 2025 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers on Thursday at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna.

The men's national basketball team looks to bank on momentum after their Asian Games gold medal last year and getting back key reinforcement Justin Brownlee as he got cleared by FIBA recently.

• Justin Brownlee recounts 'stressful' times during suspension
• Justin Brownlee arrives in PH in time for FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers

Brownlee, who was handed an anti-doping rule violation by FIBA, served a "three-month period of ineligibility" from November 9 to February 8.

• Justin Brownlee cleared to play for Gilas Pilipinas

In a Facebook post by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), coach Tim Cone, players Brownlee, Kai Sotto, Dwight Ramos, Chris Newsome, Kevin Quiambao, Jamie Malonzo, Calvin Oftana and Carl Tamayo were in attendance at the kickoff practice.

Cone previously said he wants to stick with the team for the next four years.

"We wanna keep this team intact because every time we play, we either will grow from the success or the failure that we have," he said in an interview during the recent Philippine Sportswriters Association Awards Night.

"[In] any kind of a basketball team, where you keep a team together as much as you can, and you try to get them to learn, through failures and successes."

Gilas Pilipinas will have two games this month. First, they are slated to face Hong Kong on their home turf on February 22 at 8 p.m. (Manila time), then the country will host the match against the Chinese Taipei on February 25 at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City at 7:30 p.m.

• How to watch Gilas’ 2025 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers games
• Tim Cone replaces Chot as Gilas Pilipinas coach

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