MANILA, Philippines — Gilas Pilipinas team manager Richard del Rosario said they are expecting Filipino-Cypriot big man AJ Edu to rejoin the national squad in time for the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup second window late this November.
The amiable Gilas team official noted how glad they are to know that the 6-foot-10 Edu is healthy and has been performing very well for the Nagasaki Velca in the ongoing Japan B.League season.
“First of all, it’s really huge to know he’s healthy,” Del Rosario said, in an interview with One Sports, referring to Edu, who missed the first window last February.
Back then, the youthful Edu was recovering from a torn meniscus he suffered while playing for the Toyama Grouses in last season’s B.League.
Del Rosario said Edu’s size and athleticism could complement well with 7-foot-3 big man Kai Sotto considering that Gilas will be taking on regional powerhouse New Zealand on November 21, followed by Hong Kong on November 14.
Both games will be played at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
“Right now, he’s healthy and doing very well in the B.league. He’s going to be a big addition especially facing big teams like New Zealand,” he added.
Ginebra’s Japeth Aguilar took over Edu’s spot during the latter’s absence in the FIBA Asia Cup first window and the FIBA World Cup Olympic qualifier last June in Riga, where the national squad shocked host and world powerhouse Latvia in the group stage.
The 24-year-old Edu is averaging 7.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in eight games so far with Nagasaki.
On the other hand, Sotto is also having a solid B.League season with his new team Koshigaya Alphas after averaging 14.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.4 blocks per contest.
“His (Sotto) development is continuing and (he’s) getting a lot of confidence,” said Del Rosario. “Their abilities are limitless for those two guys, and they are very young. We’re really excited to have them back,” he said.
At the moment, the Gilas team manager said they are coordinating on the two young big men’s return to the country as they plot the schedule of the Philippine team’s training camp.
“We don’t want them to be distracted from their mother team, and also we’re in constant communication in terms of their timeline on when we expect them back here,” he said.
Gilas beat Hong Kong and Taiwan during the first window to carry a 2-0 record in the FIBA Asia Cup.
At the moment, Ginebra and TNT are engaged in a tight PBA Governors’ Cup Finals series, with the Tropang Giga leading, 2-1.
