Gilas Prepares For Intense Training At Brisbane

The Philippine men’s basketball team warms up for its campaign in the third window of the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers as it undergoes a weeklong training camp in Brisbane, Australia.

Gilas Pilipinas departed last 23 June for Down Under, with coach Tim Cone leading his 12-man roster.

Gilas 3X3 On A Must-Win Situation

Jerrick Ahanmisi caught fire as Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 stayed alive and advanced to the quarterfinals, outlasting Chinese Taipei, 21-13, in the Fiba 3×3 Asia Cup on 4 April in Singapore.

Facing a must-win situation after a loss to top seed Mongolia earlier, Ahanmisi erupted for 10 straight points, including four deuces, to give Gilas a comfortable 16-10 lead.

Throwback: The Only Time Pinas Beat Aussies In World Basketball

While it may be unimaginable to topple Australia in Asian basketball competition, it has been done once before by the Philippines -- and on the world stage for that matter. This may help Gilas to draw inspiration that anything is possible, even upsetting one of the best basketball nations in the world.

Australia has a stellar record since entering the hoops realm (rather by default) when Melbourne hosted the 1956 Olympiad and fielded a basketball team for the first time ever. The Aussies failed to win a single assignment in the group stages as they fell to Chile and perennial contenders Brazil by double digits.

Norman Black To Coach Gilas In The 2025 SEAG

PBA grand slam coach and Meralco consultant Norman Black has been tapped to handle the Gilas Pilipinas squad that will be defending the country’s Southeast Asian Games men’s basketball crown in Bangkok, Thailand this December.

The national team for the SEA Games though may not feature the same 12-man national side currently being handled by coach Tim Cone.

Gilas Boys Dropped Big In The FIBA Standings

The Gilas Pilipinas boys tumbled big as they fell 10-spot downl in the FIBA World Rankings for this year, according to a list by the basketball federation.

According to the FIBA World Rankings dated 2 December, the Philippines dropped to 35th spot in the world after being No. 25 last year.

Gilas 93, Hong Kong 54

Gilas Pilipinas gave everyone a glimpse of their dominant performance by routing Hong Kong 93-54 to sweep Window 2 of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers last 24 November at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

The win secured a clean sweep of the first two qualifying windows, solidifying the Philippines’ perfect 4-0 record to lead Group B.

Gilas 93, Tall Blacks 89

Gilas Pilipinas unleashed a huge third-quarter run then knocked down clutch shots in the endgame to take down world No. 22 New Zealand, 93-89, last 21 November in a FIBA Asia Cup 2025 qualifier at the packed Mall of Asia Arena.

The Nationals went on a critical 16-0 run that turned a four-point deficit into a 72-60 lead late in the third quarter in front of an animated home crowd that filled the Pasay venue to the brim.

Bolts 82, Gilas 96

Behind close door tune-up match, the Meralco Bolts gave Gilas Pilipinas a test prior to the second window of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers. The national team defeated the reigning PBA Philippine Cup champion Meralco despite having been formed only a few days ago.

Both sides played undermanned, but nonetheless the national team of coach Tim Cone prevailed in the game, 96-82, played at the Inspire Sports Academy in Laguna.

Angelo Kouame Completes The Gilas Pool

Big man Angelo Kouame has rejoined the Gilas Pilipinas pool for the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers.

The 6-foot-11 Filipino-Ivorian center, who currently plays for Meralco in the EASL, is among the 15 players named by head coach Tim Cone for the second qualifying window, scheduled for 21 to 25 November.

Cone: Newsome's Calming Presence Needed By GILAS

In a Spin.ph article by Reuben Terradoa, Chris Newsome's invaluable contribution to a team was emphasized. For instance, after the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, the Meralco star wrote comments on each of his Gilas Pilipinas teammates' social media pages, thanking them for their service to the Philippines in their bid for a Paris Games spot.

The gesture wasn't lost on Tim Cone, who raves about Newsome's transformation into a valuable leader in the Gilas program in the years to come.

Pinas Withdrew From Asian Basketball Games

The Philippines has decided not to participate in the basketball competition of the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia, the sport's national governing body announced last 26 July.

The message was sent to media organizations via email through the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas' official account, and also posted on the federation's official social media account.

FIBA's Ruling on The Phil-Aussie Brawl

Former NBA players like Thon Maker and Andray Blatche were the biggest names in the Philippines-Australia brawl, but they sure weren’t the only ones involved in the massive fight.

The fallout included the Bucks center and former Wizards forward, but it also reaches much further.

PBA To Wait For FIBA Sanctions On Players Involved In Brawl

According to ABS-CBN News, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) officials met with the players involved in the controversial brawl between Gilas Pilipinas and Australia, but refrained from imposing any sanctions.

In a closed-door meeting at the PBA office in Libis last 5 June, commissioner Willie Marcial heard the explanation of the players who engaged the Boomers in an unsightly melee at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan – an event that put a harsh spotlight on Philippine basketball.

Coach Chot Wants To See FIBA Schedule First

Its a strategic decision on the part of the Philippine national team to check the FIBA international schedule first before finalizing its roster. Coach Chot Reyes and his staff set their sights on the Southeast Asia Basketball Association (SEABA) Championship early next year, but he wants to be careful.

Reyes said the squad wants to see the FIBA dates before finalizing the Gilas Pilipinas pool, though they already have the commitment of the 12 cadets mostly composed of PBA rookies.

Can PBA Squads Accommodate The New FIBA Schedule?

With the adoption of a new competition format and calendar starting 2017 by FIBA, it is not certain yet how the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) players will be able to squeeze it in their schedule.

Among the key changes adopted by the world governing body for basketball are: moving the FIBA Basketball World Cup from 2018 to 2019, in order to avoid clashing with the FIFA World Cup; increasing the number of participating teams from 24 to 32; and putting teams from Asia and Oceania together in one Asia-Pacific region.

Why The Gilas Pilipinas Program Makes Sense

However critics will view the recent move of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) chairman Manny V. Pangilinan to revive the original design of the Gilas Pilipinas program, one thing is clear: it all makes sense.

Unlike in previous years when the FIBA Asia Championship served as the lone qualifier for the region, the sports body has merged the Asia Oceania zones (made up of Australia and New Zealand) under the new format that will see nations playing four home-and-away qualifiers during the course of the year instead of a single event.

Jordan Clarkson Cannot Play For Gilas, But ...

Los Angeles Lakers star Jordan Clarkson was ultimately unable to participate in FIBA Asia with the Filipino National Team last summer when the slate of games conflicted with the start of the Los Angeles Lakers' training camp, but the young guard hasn't let that get in the way of his continued involvement in his mother's homeland.

Clarkson flew into the Philippines last 26 May and the NBA guard reportedly will take part in several "major basketball events" taking place in the country over the next several days. He will first participate in Nike's "unveiling of the new Gilas uniforms to be used during the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament."

Tough Luck for Gilas Pilipinas

The dice has been cast and Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball team received some tough luck after finding themselves grouped with powerhouse squads in the FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Manila in July.

The tournament draw was conducted in FIBA’s House of Basketball in Switzerland on early 27 January in the Philippines.

PHL To Host Basketball Olympic Qualifying Games

With the second win on Alaska Aces in their best-of-seven series with San Miguel Beermen comes another good news for die-hard and anti-farm team PBA fans, the FIBA Executive Committee awarded the Philippines the right to host an Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

The announcement came late in the evening on 19 January 2016 and it gives Gilas Pilipinas the chance to play before home fans when it guns for a historic place in the basketball competitions of the coming Rio Games.

The Challenge of Plantar Fasciitis

After reigning back-to-back Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Most Valuable Player (MVP) June Mar Fajardo decided to skip the national team duties to rest his injured foot, he received flak and thousands of online criticism.

Fajardo, who was named to the Gilas Pilipinas pool, said a few months ago that he will miss buildup for the 2015 FIBA Asia Championships, where the national team finished runner-up to China.