The Philippine national basketball team, Gilas Pilipinas, launched their 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers campaign in spectacular fashion, delivering a commanding 87-46 victory over Guam on Friday evening, November 28, 2025.
Defensive Masterclass Leads to Dominant Win
The game at Calvo Fieldhouse in Guam showcased Gilas Pilipinas' defensive prowess as they completely shut down their opponents in the second half. The Philippine squad limited Guam to just 17 total points across the third and fourth quarters, demonstrating their defensive discipline and strategic execution.
Head coach Tim Cone emphasized that defense was their primary focus coming into the Guam matchup. "We just had to step it up defensively," Cone stated. "I thought we were letting them get the ball a lot of times. They were able to do that but we were also able to slow them down and control the tempo."
Standout Performances Fuel Victory
Naturalized player Justin Brownlee led the charge for Gilas with an impressive 22 points, complemented by 2 rebounds and 2 assists. The veteran forward shot an efficient 53% from the field, providing the offensive firepower needed to secure the comfortable win.
Supporting contributions came from Dwight Ramos, who added 10 points to the scoreboard, and AJ Edu who chipped in with 8 points and 8 rebounds. The balanced offensive attack proved too much for the Guam defense to handle.
Looking Ahead to Manila Rematch
Despite the lopsided score, Coach Cone acknowledged Guam's disciplined approach, noting their performance against Syria in the Asia Cup. For the home team, Jericho Cruz managed to score 17 points but struggled with 6 turnovers, while Tai Wesley contributed 12 points and 5 rebounds.
The two teams will meet again for their second encounter on Monday, December 1, 2025, this time at the Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym in the Philippines. The venue shift to Manila gives Gilas Pilipinas the homecourt advantage as they look to maintain their winning momentum in the qualifiers.
This dominant start positions Gilas Pilipinas favorably in their quest to qualify for the 2027 FIBA World Cup, building confidence for the challenging matches ahead in the Asian Qualifiers.
