BARANGAY Ginebra’s core of Justin Brownlee, Scottie Thompson, RJ Abarrientos and Troy Rosario were named to the Gilas Pilipinas final 12 for the third window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.
The four Ginebra veterans are fresh from leading the Gin Kings to the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup title after dethroning the TNT Tropang 5G Wednesday night.
Ginebra finished off TNT, 88-76, in Game 7 witnessed by a new Mall of Asia Arena record of 24,617 fans.
Brownlee, a naturalized Filipino player, and the three Ginebra stalwarts were included in the 12-man lineup revealed on Thursday morning by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
Gilas Pilipinas will be playing two away games, flying to Perth to face New Zealand on July 3 followed by Australia on July 6.
The national squad will be missing its two young big men — Kai Sotto and Quentin Millora-Brown — for the third window.
National coach Tim Cone, however, is hopeful that former La Salle star and UAAP Season 88 Finals Most Valuable Player Mike Phillips, could inject the needed size, energy and dynamism for the team.
Also included in the final 12 is Converge forward Justine Baltazar.
Back for another tour of duty is Fil-Cypriot AJ Edu, along with nine-time PBA Most Valuable Player of June Mar Fajardo, Chris Newsome, Kevin Quiambao, Dwight Ramos and Carl Tamayo.
The Philippines suffered a 37-point setback against Australia at the Mall of Asia Arena last March.
Gilas Pilipinas also lost a 66-69 decision to New Zealand days before that home game against Australia.
The Philippines is currently tied with New Zealand for a share of second and third spots in Group A with identical 2-2 cards, behind Australia’s unbeaten 4-0 slate.
Guam’s 0-4 card gave the Philippines safe passage to the second round as only one team will be eliminated from the group.
