Gilas Pilipinas faces a challenging road to the 2027 FIBA World Cup after being drawn into a group with powerhouse teams Australia and New Zealand, along with Guam, in the upcoming Asian Qualifiers.
The official draw took place Tuesday night in Doha, Qatar—the tournament’s host city in 2027.
Currently ranked 34th in the world, the Philippines will square off against world no. 7 Australia, world no. 22 New Zealand, and 88th-ranked Guam. The group presents a stiff test for Gilas, especially with memories still fresh from their 2018 clash with the Boomers, which ended in a brawl-marred 89-53 loss.
On a brighter note, Gilas secured a morale-boosting win over New Zealand in their last meeting, edging them 93-89 during the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
Before turning its focus to the World Cup qualifiers in November, the national squad will compete in the FIBA Asia Cup in August, hosted by Saudi Arabia.
If Gilas qualifies, it will mark their fourth consecutive World Cup appearance, having competed in 2014, 2019, and 2023.