Gilas Pilipinas has called up Converge FiberXers big man Justine Baltazar to fill a significant void in their frontcourt for the challenging 3rd Window of the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, according to the PBA.
Coach Tim Cone Remains Optimistic
Despite the apparent lack of interior pillars, head coach Tim Cone remains hopeful that Gilas can spring a surprise in their tough upcoming assignments. "We know it's going to be tough, but we look forward to it. We've been a team that's pulled off surprises before, so I'm not gonna be surprised if we pull off another one," Cone said in a report on www.gmanews.tv.
Cone cited their past victories against Latvia and the New Zealand Tall Blacks as examples of the team's capability to overcome odds.
Upcoming Schedule
In this challenging window, Gilas will face the Tall Blacks on July 3, followed by the Australia Boomers on July 6, 2026. The team previously shocked the basketball world with a stunning win in 2024, which Cone attributes to their rigorous training camp.
"That's really good preparation for us. I've always said that a prepared team is a confident team, and if we are confident, that's going to show in our games," Cone added.
New Additions to the Roster
Cone also expressed confidence that new recruits Mike Phillips, Justine Baltazar, and Juan Gomez de Liaño will make significant contributions. They replace Scottie Thompson, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury. "We bring them in with a purpose. We don't just look at talent, we try to bring in players who fit the puzzle of our team's vision," Cone explained.
The rest of the Gilas roster includes Justin Brownlee, RJ Abarrientos, Troy Rosario, Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, June Mar Fajardo, Chris Newsome, Kevin Quiambao, and Carl Tamayo.
