Kai Sotto, Carl Tamayo star as Gilas Pilipinas dismantles Hong Kong in FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers

The youthful tandem of Kai Sotto and Carl Tamayo linked up as Gilas Pilipinas crushed a hapless Hong Kong squad, 93-54, to preserve its immaculate record in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena. 

The Filipinos unleashed 22 huge points in the penultimate period while limiting the visitors to just eight to pull away for good and improve to 4-0 in Group B. Hong Kong, meanwhile, dropped to 0-4. 

Gilas can book an outright FIBA Asia Cup ticket as early as Monday if New Zealand (2-1) beats Chinese Taipei (1-2). 

Gilas needed to buck a slow start with Hong Kong as they kept up with the higher-ranked Philippines with a 10-9 lead. However, it was all Gilas from that point, unleashing a 13-0 rampage to establish a 22-10 lead that swelled to 16 when Tamayo uncorked three straight baskets for a 41-25 lead in the second period. 

By the break, Gilas was protecting a 45-35 lead, thanks to an early double-double figure from Sotto, who had 10 points and 10 rebounds through the first two quarters. 

Similar to what they did against the Tall Blacks just three days ago, the Filipinos walked off the halftime break unconscious after extending that cushion to 67-40 after a 13-0 blast led by Justin Brownlee and Scottie Thompson. 

Mason Amos then put the finishing kick by firing a corner three-pointer to close out the emphatic victory in front of the home crowd. 

Sotto once again shone on both ends with 12 points, 15 rebounds, two assists, and two blocks while Tamayo exploded with 16 markers, five boards, and one dime.

However, it wasn't just a two-man show for the Filipinos with Brownlee putting together 13 points of his own together with three rebounds and three assists as San Miguel teammates June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez chipped in 14 and 10 markers apiece. 

Gilas returns in February 2025 for the third window, taking on Chinese Taipei on the 20th then New Zealand anew on the 23rd. 

—JKC, GMA Integrated News