Gilas Pilipinas opened its FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers campaign on a strong note, securing back-to-back wins over Guam to complete a clean sweep of the opening window. The Philippines capped its impressive start with a 95-71 victory at the Blue Eagle Gym on Monday, following an earlier 87-46 triumph on the road just two days prior.
Strong Start Sets the Tone
The home team wasted no time establishing control, erupting with a 17-3 run and dominating the opening quarter, 32-15. That early buffer proved decisive for the rest of the match, as Guam attempted to tighten the gap in the middle quarters but never came close to overturning the lead built by Gilas.
Guam’s Jericho Cruz delivered an outstanding performance with 27 points, while Justin Brownlee matched the momentum for Gilas, tallying 20 points to keep the offense flowing. Brownlee also contributed across the board with rebounds, assists, steals, and a block, helping the Philippines stay in rhythm during Guam’s brief surges.
Depth on Display as Gilas Moves to 2-0
The win also carried emotional weight as it may have marked one of Japeth Aguilar’s final games for the national team. He was honored before tip-off in Ateneo, where he began his collegiate career and rose to prominence.
Dwight Ramos added 19 points, highlighted by a late dunk that extended the lead to 88-71 and closed the door on any comeback attempt. Quentin Millora-Brown impressed in his home debut with nine points and nine boards, further showing the team’s depth.
After the game, Gilas head coach Tim Cone acknowledged that the performance was not flawless but emphasized the importance of the result.
“We didn’t play our best game tonight, especially on the defensive end. But bottom line was we took care of business, and this is what we talked about from the very beginning, how crucial it was to win these two games,” Cone said.
With the victory, the Philippines now sits at 2-0 in Group A, tied with Australia at the top of the standings. Gilas will next face New Zealand when the qualifiers resume on February 26, 2026.
Beyond the standings, the strong start helps reinforce basketball’s influence in the Philippines, boosting national pride, sustaining local interest in international competition, and keeping momentum alive for fans looking ahead to the road toward the 2027 World Cup in Qatar.
