August 12, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — AJ Edu is having a ball in his FIBA Asia Cup debut in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Within the absence of Kai Sotto, the 6-foot-10 Edu has taken major huge man chores and posted workforce excessive averages of 8.3 rebounds and two shot blocks for the Nationals in group play.
Edu’s blocking norm even put him at No. 2 total within the continental meet, subsequent solely to Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed Alsuwailem who averaged three.
He had a single-game excessive of 12 boards, posted in Gilas’ 87-95 loss to Chinese language-Taipei, en path to rising the sixth-best rebounder within the competitors.
Scoring-wise, Edu was good for five.7 factors per session for coach Tim Cone, backing up Justin Brownlee’s 21.3 and Dwight Ramos’ 18.7.
The 25-year-old slotman had 9 markers, seven boards, two steals and two blocks in serving to the Filipinos to the very important 66-57 win over Iraq that saved their quarterfinal hopes alive after a 0-2 begin.
That match was additional particular for Edu as his UK-based father Ayotunde and mom Josie have been on the King Abdullah Metropolis Sports activities Metropolis to personally cheer for him for the primary time as a Gilas mainstay.
“It’s very nice to have my dad and mom within the crowd. It actually motivated me,” the Cypriot-born heart mentioned on One Sports activities. “They’re the explanation I made it this far out and I’m proud to signify my mother’s nation in entrance of Filipinos. It’s a blessing.”
Like Edu, naturalized participant Brownlee is making his mark in his maiden Asia Cup stint, too.
