The Philippine national men's basketball team, Gilas Pilipinas, secured its second consecutive victory in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers by defeating Guam, 95-71, on Monday night, December 1, 2025. The match was held at the Blue Eagles Gym in Manila.
A Strong Start Followed by a Guam Surge
The game began with Gilas Pilipinas asserting its dominance early. The home team exploded with a 17-3 run to start the contest, setting the tone and building a comfortable 27-point lead at one point in the first half. This mirrored their dominant performance from the first meeting between the two teams on November 28, which ended in an 87-46 rout for the Philippines.
However, Guam refused to go down quietly. Led by Filipino-Guamanian guard Jericho Cruz of the PBA's San Miguel Beermen, the visiting squad mounted a fierce comeback in the third quarter. Their relentless effort cut the once-substantial Gilas lead down to just a single digit, putting the home crowd on edge and testing the Philippine squad's composure.
Fourth Quarter Awakening Seals the Win
Facing a surging opponent, Gilas Pilipinas needed a response. The team found its catalyst in naturalized player Justin Brownlee. Sparked by his leadership and scoring, Gilas woke from its third-quarter slumber and reignited its offensive engine in the final period.
The strong fourth-quarter push allowed Gilas to pull away decisively, ultimately securing the 95-71 victory and maintaining a perfect record in the qualifiers. After the game, head coach Tim Cone acknowledged the team's uneven performance, particularly on defense, but emphasized the importance of the result.
"We didn't play our best game tonight especially on the defensive end," Cone stated. "But bottom line was we took care of business, and this is what we talked about from the very beginning, how crucial it was to win these two games."
Key Performers and Standings
Justin Brownlee led the scoring charge for Gilas with 20 points. He was ably supported by Dwight Ramos, who contributed 19 points. Kevin Quiambao added 12 points, while Chris Newsome chipped in 10 points. For Guam, Jericho Cruz was the standout performer, pouring in a game-high 27 points, with teammate Simon adding 23 points.
With this win, Gilas Pilipinas improves its record to 2-0 in Group A of the Asian Qualifiers' first window. The team has successfully completed its initial set of home games and will look to carry this momentum into the next round of matches.
Final Scores:
- Gilas Pilipinas (95) – Brownlee 20, Ramos 19, Quiambao 12, Newsome 10, Millora-Brown 9, Fajardo 7, Thompson 5, Tamayo 4, Edu 4, Aguilar 3, Perez 2, Abarrientos 0.
- Guam (71) – Cruz 27, Simon 23, Galloway 10, Wesley 5, Blas 4, Africano 2.
