IT’S been a while since Gilas Pilipinas and its faithful enjoyed a “home party” in a FIBA gig.
The last one happened back in December, when the Nationals hammered out a 95-71 conquest of Guam at the Blue Eagle Gym for their second match in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers’ (WCQ) Round 1 opening window.
Their last two outings on home soil — for the third window of the WCQ — saw the Filipinos losing to New Zealand (66-69) last Feb. 26 and Australia (66-93) three nights later, both at the SM MOA Arena.
Now as they proceed to Round 2 hostilities later this month, the charges of coach Tim Cone get their chance to give home supporters another treat. CoachingClinics
With the Philippines awarded hosting rights for all Group E matches in the fourth window at the MOA Arena, Gilas will relish home court advantage when they play Jordan on Aug. 28 and Iran on Aug. 30.
The twin assignments will be critical in the Pinoy cagers’ drive for a ticket to next year’s global extravaganza.
After the first round hostilities, Mr. Cone’s troops sit at fifth in Group E with eight points on two wins and four losses — outside the qualifying cutline.
The undefeated Boomers, with 12 points on a perfect 6-0 card, lead the six-team bracket followed by the Iranians and the Jordanians with identical 11-pointers off 5-1 records and the Tall Blacks (10 points on 4-2) who are two markers ahead of the Philippines. Syria also sported eight points on 4-2.
“Very crucial games for us,” said Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Executive Director Erika Dy. “Hopefully we’ll get the full support (from the crowd).”
Gilas will play Iran, Jordan and Syria twice, looking to string up victories to propel them to the Top 3 of Group E to gain outright entry to the WC. If not, it can still qualify if its finishes as the best fourth-placer versus the No. 4 finisher in Group F, which features Lebanon (11 points), Japan (10 points), WC host Qatar (10), Saudi Arabia (9 points), South Korea (9 points) and China (9 points).
Gilas is beset with player unavailability with Kai Sotto, Quentin Millora-Brown and Mike Phillips doubtful. June Mar Fajardo has expressed his intention to retire from the national quintet but was prevailed upon to still join the likes of Justin Brownlee, Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, Carl Tamayo and Kevin Quiambao for this mission.
“We certainly have our issues,” said Mr. Cone. “But we still have (the rest of the guys) and we’re going to put up a fight here.”
🏀 FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 (Asian Qualifiers):
SECOND ROUND: Group E
(Aug. 28, 2026) 
Gilas vs. Jordan [LIVE] (8:30pm @MOA Arena)
(Aug. 30, 2026) Gilas vs. Iran [LIVE] (8:00pm @MOA Arena)
(Nov. 27, 2026) Gilas vs. Syria [LIVE] (TBA)
(Nov. 30, 2026) Gilas vs. Iran [LIVE] (TBA)
(Feb. 25, 2027) Gilas vs. Jordan [LIVE] (TBA)
(Feb. 28, 2027) Gilas vs. Syria [LIVE] (TBA)
FIRST ROUND: Group A (2W-4L)
July 6, 2026 - Australia def. Gilas, 92-49
July 3, 2026: NZL def. Gilas, 106-102 (2OT)
Feb. 26, 2026: NZL def. Gilas, 69-66
March 1, 2026: Australia def. Gilas, 93-66
Dec. 1, 2025: Gilas def. Guam, 95-71
Nov. 28, 2025: Gilas def. Guam, 87-46
🏀 Asian Games 2026: (Group C | Men's Basketball)
Venue: Aichi International Arena (IG Arena) Japan
(Sept. 11, 2026) Gilas vs. Bahrain [LIVE]
(Sept. 12, 2026) Gilas vs. Kazakhstan [LIVE]
(Sept. 14, 2026) Gilas vs. China [LIVE]
(Sept. 16, 2026) Quarterfinals
(Sept. 18, 2026) Semifinals
(Sept. 20, 2026) Medal Round
🏀 Tuneup Games 2026: (2W)
June 30, 2026: Gilas def. Franklin Bulls 94-66
June 28, 2026: Gilas def. Manawatu Jets, 92-61
🏀 SEA Games 2025: (4W-0L) 🥇
Roster: Jamie Malonzo, Robert Bolick, Bobby Ray Parks Jr., JP Erram, Matthew Wright, Thirdy Ravena, Dalph Panopio, Cedric Manzano, Justin Chua, Abu Tratter, Von Pessumal, and VJ Pre | Head coach: Norman Black
(Dec. 14, 2025) Gilas def. Malaysia, 83-58
(Dec. 15, 2025) Gilas def. Vietnam, 78-67
(Dec. 18, 2025) SEMIS | Gilas def. Indonesia, 71-68
(Dec. 19, 2025) GOLD | Gilas def. Thailand, 70-64
🏀 FIBA Asia Cup 2025: (2W-3L)
Aug 13, 2025: QF | Australia def. Gilas, 84-60
Aug 11, 2025: QQF | Gilas def. Saudi Arabia, 95-88 (OT)
Aug 9, 2025: Gilas def. Iraq, 66-57
Aug 7, 2025: New Zealand def. Gilas, 94-86
Aug 6, 2025: Chinese Taipei def. Gilas, 95-87
🏀 Tuneup Games 2025: (2W)
Aug 2, 2025: Gilas def. Jordan, 75-61 ()
July 28, 2025: Gilas def. Macau Black Bears, 103-98
🏀 FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers: (4W-2L)
Feb 23, 2025: New Zealand def. Gilas, 87-70
Feb 20, 2025: C.Taipei def. Gilas, 91-84
Nov 24, 2024: Gilas def. Hong Kong, 93-54
Nov 21, 2024: Gilas def. New Zealand, 93-89
Feb 25, 2024: Gilas def. C.Taipei, 106-53
Feb 22, 2024: Gilas def. Hong Kong, 94-64
🏀 2025 Doha International Cup: (1W-2L)
Venue: 5,000-seater Qatar University Sports Arena, Doha
Feb 17, 2025: Egypt def. Gilas, 86-55
Feb 15, 2025: Lebanon def. Gilas, 75-54
Feb 15, 2025: Gilas def. Qatar, 74-71
🏀 FIBA OQT 2024: (1W-2L)
July 6, 2024 - SEMIS | Brazil def. Gilas, 71-60
July 4, 2024: Georgia def. Gilas, 96-94
July 3, 2024: Gilas def. Latvia, 89-80
🏀 Tuneup Game Pre-OQT 2024: (1W-2L)
June 29, 2024: Poland def. Gilas, 82-80
June 28, 2024: Turkey def. Gilas, 84-73
June 24, 2024: Gilas def. Taiwan Mustangs, 74-64
🏀 Asian Games 2023: (6W-1L) 🥇
Oct 6, 2023: GOLD - Gilas def. Jordan, 70-60
Oct 4, 2023: SEMIS - Gilas def. China, 77-76
Oct 3, 2023: QF - Gilas def. Iran, 84-83
Oct 2, 2023: Gilas def. Qatar, 80-41
Sept 30, 2023: Jordan def. Gilas, 87-62
Sept 28, 2023: Gilas def. Thailand, 87-72
Sept 26, 2023: Gilas def. Bahrain, 89-61
🏀 Tuneup Game Pre-Asian Games: (1W)
Sept 22, 2023: Gilas def. LG Sakers, 86-81
🏀 FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 (1W-4L)
Sept 2, 2023: Gilas def. China, 96-75
Aug 31, 2023: South Sudan def. Gilas,87-68
Aug 29, 2023: Italy def. Gilas, 90-83
Aug 27, 2023: Angola def. Gilas, 80-70
Aug 25, 2023: Dominican R. def. Gilas, 87-81
🏀 Tuneup Games Pre-World Cup (9W-6L)
Aug 21, 2023: Mexico def. Gilas, 84-77
Aug 20, 2023: Montenegro def. Gilas, 102-87
Aug 18, 2023: Gilas def. Ivory Coast, 85-62
Aug 7, 2023: Gilas def. Iran B, 63-48
Aug 6, 2023: Gilas def. Senegal, 75-63
Aug 4, 2023: Senegal def. Gilas, 72-64
Aug 3, 2023: Gilas def. Iran B, 76-65
July 28, 2023: Gilas def. Magnolia 93-77
July 20, 2023: Gilas def. Ateneo, 86-81
July 8, 2023: Gilas def. LTU’s WUG, 125-102
July 4, 2023: LTU Select def. Gilas, 90-80
July 2, 2023: Gilas def. Ukraine U20, 84-74
July 1, 2023: Gilas def. Ukraine U20, 70-61
June 28, 2023: Finland def. Gilas, 89-85
June 27, 2023: Estonia def. Gilas, 81-71
🏀 SEA Games 2023: (4W-1L) 🥇
May 17, 2023: GOLD - Gilas def. Cambodia, 80-69
May 16, 2023: SEMIS - Gilas def. Indonesia, 84-76
May 13, 2023: Gilas def. Singapore, 105-45
May 11, 2023: Cambodia def. Gilas, 79-68
May 9, 2023: Gilas def. Malaysia, 94-49
🏀 FIBA World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers (6W-4L)
Feb 27, 2023: Jordan def. Gilas, 91-90
Feb 24, 2023: Gilas def. Lebanon, 107-96
Nov 10, 2022: Gilas def. Jordan, 74-66
Nov 13, 2022: Gilas def. KSA, 76-63
Aug 26, 2022: Lebanon def. Gilas, 85-81
Aug 29, 2022: Gilas def. KSA 84-46
Jun 30, 2022: NZ def. Gilas, 106-60
Jul 3, 2022: Gilas def. India, 79-63
Feb 25, 2022: Gilas def. India, 88-64
Feb 27, 2022: NZ def. Gilas, 88-63
🏀 FIBA Asia Cup 2022 (1W-3L)
July 19, 2022: Japan def. PHL, 102-81
July 17, 2022: NZ def. PHL, 92-75
July 15, 2022: PHL def. India, 101-59
July 13, 2022: Lebanon def. PHL, 95-80
🏀 PHL-KOREA Friendlies 2022 (0W-2L)
Jun 18, 2022: Korea def. PHL, 106-102
Jun 17, 2022: Korea def. PHL, 96-92
