Gilas Pilipinas in the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers. FIBA Basketball.MANILA — The work starts now for Gilas Pilipinas as it gears up for the continuation of the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers and its campaign in the 2026 Asian Games.
Gilas head coach Tim Cone said the national team is expected to have two squads for the two tournaments as it prepares for a busy stretch in the coming weeks.
“We’re gonna have two pretty much separate teams. One for the window and one for the Asian Games. That’s pretty much the plan,” the Barangay Ginebra lead tactician said.
To attend to the needs of both squads, Cone said he will handle the FIBA duties alongside LA Tenorio and Sean Chambers for now, while Jong Uichico, Richard Del Rosario, and Josh Reyes will be in charge of the Asiad training.
“We’re going to practice separately. The plan is for me to handle the window until we get it done and to transfer to the Asian team. In the meantime, Richard, Josh, and Jong will handle the Asian Games.”
Fortunately, help is on its way, with Justin Brownlee expected to be fully healthy after dealing with hamstring injuries.
Also expected to be around are overseas-based Filipinos from the Japan B.League and the Korean Basketball League, namely Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, Carl Tamayo, and Kevin Quiambao, who will suit up for the qualifiers against Jordan on August 28 and Iran on August 30.
However, since the Asian Games is not a FIBA-sanctioned tournament, Cone does not expect to use the overseas-based players.
Instead, he opted to field an all-PBA team that will join forces with Brownlee in Gilas’ bid to retain the basketball gold medal in the Asiad in Nagoya, Japan.
The Asiad basketball competitions begin on September 10, but Gilas Pilipinas will first travel to South Korea on September 3 to play a pair of friendlies against the Korean national team.
From Korea, the Philippine quintet will depart for Nagoya on September 7.