THE Philippines fell three levels down from No. 36 to No. 39 based on the latest FIBA men’s basketball ranking that came out early this week.
Gilas is just over two weeks removed from the window 3 FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers, which saw the national side drop back-to-back road games to New Zealand and Australia.
The Filipinos suffered a heartbreaking 106-102 overtime decision to the Tall Blacks on July 3 in Auckland, followed by a sound 92-49 beating at the hands of the Boomers in Perth.
The Tim Cone-mentored national squad has lost four straight games in the first round overall after dropping its home games to New Zealand and Australia in the first quarter of this year.
The Philippines carry a 2-4 record so far, its two wins courtesy of a pair of blowout victories against Guam last year.
Australia dropped one level down to seventh spot in the world rankings despite its pristine 6-0 card at the end of the first round of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.
Among the Asian squads, many-time regional champion Iran moved two levels up to occupy No. 26, while Lebanon improved to 31st.
The Philippines is at seventh place overall among Asian teams. Gilas will have a chance to work its world rankings back up late in August at the start of the second round of the Asian Qualifiers.
The national squad opens the Group E match against Jordan on Aug. 28, Friday, starting at 8:30 p.m.
Gilas then swings back to action on Sunday, Aug. 30, as it faces off with many-time Asian cage champion Iran at 8 p.m.
The Philippines joins a loaded Group E, along with unbeaten Australia (6-0) and New Zealand (4-2) as well as West Asian squads Iran (5-1), Jordan (5-1) and Syria (2-4).
