Many Gilas Pilipinas fans aren’t exactly thrilled at the team’s seventh-place finish in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup that Australia won by the skin of their teeth on Monday morning. Rain or Shine Elasto Painters coach Yeng Guiao, though, isn’t one of them, telling SEAG Live on Monday that he’s not necessarily disappointed even if the nationals failed to medal in the continental tourney.
Then again, the fiery mentor did say he felt Gilas could’ve gone further than they did, but were simply undone by the massive Kaiju-sized void left by Kai Sotto and a seeming lack of luck—something Guiao believes is part of the equation, too.
Now that the curtains have closed on the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup, Guiao is keeping his fingers crossed that Gilas Pilipinas can move forward and improve as a team.
Beat the Asian Teams First, Says Yeng Guiao
Speaking of getting better, Yeng Guiao also offered up a pathway which he claims is very realistic for Gilas Pilipinas: “I think the objective for the national team should just be able to be the best in Asia.”
That, of course, is easier said than done. And Guiao himself pointed out the potential roadblocks to Gilas attaining Asian hoops supremacy.
“That means we have to be able to beat China, which is a tall order, although we did that already in the Asian Games, so that’s possible, that’s a realistic goal,” Guiao pointed out. “Then, of course, the Middle Eastern teams are getting stronger also. Lebanon and Jordan are getting stronger, even Iran, and then you have to contend with Japan and Korea. Eto ‘yung mga ka-level natin, na sa tingin ko may possibility na tatalunin natin sila.”
True enough, the Philippines has shown it can beat its Asian neighbors. Some members of this 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Gilas squad, like June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, and Calvin Oftana, should know. They helped Gilas beat Iran, China, and, in succession, to win the gold medal in the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023. All-time, the Philippines also has wins over Japan, South Korea, Iran, and Lebanon.
So, yes, Yeng Guiao is on to something. Dreaming big is perfectly fine. But being realistic works just as well. For now, Gilas needs to figure out how to beat Asia’s best teams in basketball. The rest of the world will always be there for the taking anyway.
