MANILA, Philippines — Gilas Pilipinas is heading to second round of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers minus naturalized player Justin Brownlee, where the national team will play two home games on August 28 and 30 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Head coach Tim Cone made the official announcement on Monday in a press conference held at the famed Pasay City sports arena.
“The big elephant in the room right now is Justin is not here and will most likely not play so that’s a big adjustment,” Cone told media men.
The American mentor though sounded confident that Gilas can handle Jordan and Iran in its two home games due to the presence of 7-foot-3 big man Kai Sotto, AJ Edu, June Mar Fajardo.
“With Kai here, then we got June Mar and AJ, we feel we have the size to be successful in this window,” Cone added.
Sotto, an expectant father since tying the knot a few months back with Filipina actress and model Rere Madrid, will be playing for Gilas for the first time since Nov. 22, 2024, or nearly two years where he teamed up with Brownlee in leading the Philippines to a historic 93-89 win against New Zealand at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The presence of the shot-blocking Sotto provides Gilas the big size advantage against Jordan and Iran, two powerhouse West Asian teams that have traditionally been giving the Philippines a lot of headache in international tournaments.
Gilas though has beaten Jordan during its last meeting in the 2023 Asian Games, en route to winning the gold medal in Hangzhou, China, marking the country’s first men’s cage crown since 1962.
The national team also beat a locked and loaded Iran side during its run-up to the Asian Games gold in 2023.
The Philippines is out to arrest a four-game losing skid and hopes to galvanize its World Cup bid with victories over Jordan and Iran.
Gilas enters the second round with a 2-4 record, tied with Syria, with the two squads bunched together at Group E along with Australia (6-0) Jordan and Iran, which are tied at 5-1, followed by New Zealand (4-2).
