MANILA (2015 FIBA Asia Championship) - The Philippines put everyone on notice at last year's FIBA Basketball World Cup that they are a team on the rise.

Though Gilas fell in four of their five games and did not advance to the Round of the 16, all of their contests were close with several players putting in solid showings.

The potential is huge, but the summer of 2014 will nevertheless be a tough act to follow.

The Philippines will be in action this year at the FIBA Asia Championship in Changsha, China, from 23 September to 3 October.

The winner will seal a place in the Rio de Janeiro Games.

Since Spain, the Philippines have a big change with coach Tab Baldwin replacing Chot Reyes at the helm.

Baldwin steered a Gilas Cadets team to glory at the SEABA Championship earlier this summer but the FIBA Asia Championship will be a much tougher challenge.

Over the weekend, the Filipinos lost all three of their games at the Toyota Tallinn 4 Nations Cup.

The Netherlands hammered Gilas, 89-62, before hosts Estonia whipped them, 90-80.

In their last game against Iceland, Baldwin's squad got 22 points from Andray Blatche and led by as many as seven points in the third quarter but still fell, 86-76.

The Philippines have returned home but will soon be taking off for Chinese Taipei to play in the Jones Cup tournament from 29 August to 6 September.

FIBA