Gilas Pilipinas Eyes Another Win with Home Crowd Advantage
Following a commanding 87-46 victory over Guam on their home court, the Gilas Pilipinas men's basketball team is set for an immediate rematch. The second game of this FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers series will be held on Monday, December 1, 2025, at the Blue Eagle Gym in the capital. Head coach Tim Cone is banking on a powerful show of support from the home crowd to fuel his team's confidence.
No Room for Complacency After Blowout Win
Despite the dominant 41-point blowout win at the University of Guam Calvo Field House, Coach Cone is warning against any sense of overconfidence. He expects the 81st-ranked Guam squad to return with heightened motivation for the second encounter within three days. "They're going to come incredibly motivated," Cone stated, emphasizing the need for his team to be prepared for a tougher challenge.
The Power of the Home Court
Cone highlighted the critical role that Filipino fans play in boosting the national team's performance. "Hopefully, we'll have the home crowd that will get us pumped up," the Gilas coach added. The team has an impressive undefeated record on home soil dating back to the Asia Cup qualifiers last year. This streak includes a historic 93-89 victory over New Zealand in a FIBA-sanctioned tournament, a game witnessed by a massive, energetic crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena.
"We love our basketball back home, everybody knows that," Cone remarked. "And we're gonna have a big sellout whenever Gilas plays. We don't play at home very often, so when we do, everybody's excited to watch them." He expressed hope that this electric atmosphere will be the key to generating the team's excitement and securing a follow-up victory in the ongoing qualifiers.
