Gilas Pilipinas faces Australia as Boomers return to PH for FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers

Gilas Pilipinas will take on Australia in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers on Sunday, marking the Boomers’ return to the Philippines after nearly eight years.

While this will not be the first meeting between the two national teams since their infamous clash, it will be Australia’s first game on Philippine soil since July 2018.

The last time the Boomers played in the country was during the 2018 Asian Qualifiers, a match marred by a brawl that led to multiple ejections from both sides. Australia went on to win that game, 89-53.

Gilas and Australia also met last year in the FIBA Asia Cup, where the Boomers secured an 84-60 victory.

Now, Gilas hopes to move forward and bounce back after a narrow 69-66 loss to New Zealand last Thursday.

“Kailangang mag-move on for next game. Kailangan mag-focus, kailangan mag-move forward para sa Australia,” said CJ Perez following the defeat.

For Gilas head coach Tim Cone, moral victories are not enough.

“I hate to say it, but we're going to continue to learn as we go forward. But again, I just don't want to get into this ‘we almost won, we almost did that.’ We don't want to play that game with ourselves — we want to win games,” Cone said.

Australia has already secured a spot in the next round with a 3-0 record in Group A. The Philippines stands at 2-1, while New Zealand is at 1-2. Guam. meanwhile, remains winless in three games.

Only the top three teams from the group will advance to the second round of the tournament.

Aside from the Philippines-Australia showdown, New Zealand and Guam will also face off on Sunday.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News