GILAS BEGINS TRAINING CAMP FOR FIBA WCQ

GILAS Pilipinas is expected to go down to business right away, beginning with its first practice this Monday as the national team prepares for two huge opponents in New Zealand and Australia in window 2 of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.

 

The Philippine team under coach Tim Cone will have at least 10 days of preparation before taking on the heavyweight basketball squads, starting with New Zealand, ranked 25th in the world on February 26, followed by Australia, world no. 6 on March 1.

 

Both games will be played at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

 

The good news is, veteran Meralco wingman Chris Newsome is fit again, having played for the Bolts last Wednesday in a 79-88 defeat to the Ryukyu Golden Kings that ended the team’s East Asia Super League Season 3 home and away playoff hopes at the Araneta Coliseum.

 

The Filipino American wingman played 19 minutes against the Japanese squad, scoring three points, grabbed a rebound, issued four assists and had three steals.

 

Newsome sustained an MCL (medial collateral ligament) injury on his knee during Meralco’s semifinal series against TNT in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup.

 

The only question is will young big man Kai Sotto still play for Gilas in the two crucial matches against the former Oceania basketball giants.

 

Cone has said in recent interview that Sotto’s health remains a subject of conversation, aware that the 7-foot-3 slotman has just recovered recently from a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) on his knee that kept him out of action for over a year.

 

Without Sotto if ever, Cone will have to lean heavily of veteran Gilas big man June Mar Fajardo, shot-blocking AJ Edu, Carl Tamayo and recent addition Quentin Millora-Brown.

 

Cone said he expects Tamayo and Co. to be there in practice by Monday.

 

“They will all trickle in through the week as their mother teams release them,” Cone told The Manila Times.

 

Other than Edu (Gunma Crane Thunders, Japan) and Tamayo (LG Sakers, Korea), Dwight Ramos (Levanga Hokkaido) and Kevin Quiambao (Sono Skygunners) are the other Gilas players who play overseas.

 

Australia and the Philippines (36th) share similar unblemished 2-0 records in the first round at Group A.

 

On the other hand, New Zealand (25th) and Guam (79th) are winless after their first two matches. The three top teams in the group stage will move on to the second round, with three teams from Group C joining them.

2026-02-15T16:14:44Z