Gilas Pilipinas out to upset Australia in FIBA Asia Cup quarterfinals

Gilas Pilipinas braces for its toughest test yet as it aims to swing the upset axe on powerhouse Australia in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday night at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The Filipinos battle the unbeaten Boomers at 7 p.m., eyeing to derail Australia’s three-peat bid and book their first FIBA Asia Cup semifinal appearance in a decade.

"We didn’t expect to play them this early in the tournament. Losing our first two games, so that got us here," Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone said.

"We figured that if we’re going to do something special in this tournament, you have to go through Australia at some point so it’s here in front of us, we’re gonna do our best and get at them."

On paper, the Boomers remain the heavy favorites.

A two-time defending champion and ranked No. 7 in the world, Australia has steamrolled through the competition, sweeping the group stage with lopsided wins to cruise straight into the quarterfinals.

Leading the Australians is a 22-year-old guard Jaylin Galloway and a 6-foot-8 forward Jack McVeigh, both of whom are averaging double-digit scoring in the tournament with 18.0 and 13.7 markers, respectively.

Australia is also the second-best rebounding and blocking team in the tournament while it ranks fourth in assists and second in three-point field goals.

But Gilas is embracing the challenge of taking on the Boomers the country hasn't faced in seven years, or since the infamous brawl at the Philippines Arena during the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers in 2018. 

"I’ve never coached against Australia before. This will be my first time so I’m excited about it," Cone added.

"We know that they are pretty much the number one seed in the tournament and for us to beat them is gonna be an upset."

Gilas, though, might have to do it with an undermanned roster with two key players in Calvin Oftana and CJ Perez set to miss the game due to injuries. 

Oftana hurt his right ankle late in their game against Iraq last Saturday while Perez also hurt his ankle midway in the second period in their overtime escape against host Saudi Arabia early Tuesday. 

That is why Cone is glad to have at least a full day of rest for his wards, especially the embattled Justin Brownlee as the naturalized forward has been the subject of their opponents' defensive scheme. 

"We’re enthused that we have a day to prepare and a day for Justin to rest and Dwight and some of the guys so that’s gonna help out a lot. We didn’t want to really put a lot of preparation for Australia before and look past the Kingdom [of Saudi Arabia]," the multi-titled tactician said.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News