Brownlee-less Gilas Pilipinas absorbs 43-point loss to Australia to end FIBA World Cup Qualifiers first round

Short-handed Gilas Pilipinas fell flat early en route to a 92-49 blowout loss against Australia, concluding its FIBA World Cup Qualifiers third window run on Monday at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

Gilas, playing without naturalized import Justin Brownlee, will still advance to the second round after finishing the first round in third spot in Group A with a 2-4 card while the Boomers will complete a 6-0 sweep.

READ MORE | UPDATES: Gilas Pilipinas vs Australia at the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers

Three days after dismantling Guam by 72 points, 124-52, Australia picked up right where it left off, catching fire early to break away from Gilas Pilipinas in the opening quarter.

Bryce Cotton, the NBL's six-time MVP and three-time champion, fueled that opening period rampage after torching Gilas with three triples that helped turn an 8-all deadlock into a 33-14 cushion to close out the frame.

Gilas' June Mar Fajardo, meanwhile, also flexed his MVP caliber as the nine-time PBA MVP helped Gilas cut the deficit to just 14, 41-27, after posting eight points and seven rebounds in the first half.

But Gilas failed to sustain its momentum in the second half as the Boomers feasted on the Philippines' turnovers and offensive struggles.

NBA player Tyrese Proctor, who exploded for six triples during that lopsided win over Guam last Friday, took charge in the third period, burying a three-pointer before Jack McVeigh knocked down a trey of his own to extend Australia's lead to 51-31.

Mike Phillips and Carl Tamayo tried to bring life to Gilas with the former La Salle big man soaring for a dunk at the 52-33 mark, but the Boomers responded quickly.

Proctor, a 49th overall pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2025 Draft, closed out the third with four straight free throws, 63-37. Another Proctor triple made it a 66-39 lead for Australia, something Gilas could not recover from as the Filipinos extended their seven-game losing streak to the Boomers since 1978.

No Gilas player scored in double digits as Dwight Ramos finished with nine points while Fajardo had eight points, eight rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and one steal.

Kevin Quiambao and Juan Gomez de Liaño, who exploded for 23 points each in their 106-102 double overtime loss to New Zealand last Friday, were limited to eight and seven markers, respectively.

Cotton top-scored Australia with 21 points along with five assists, two rebounds, and two steals while Proctor finished with 16 markers, four boards, four dimes, and a steal as they remained unbeaten through six outings.

Gilas will return to the World Cup qualifiers in August for the second round of the competition.

The scores:

Australia 92 - Cotton 21, Proctor 16, Creek 13, Bannan 11, Pinder 9, Armstrong 4, Glover 4, Condon 3, McVeigh 3, Okwera 3, Smith 3, Swaka Lo Buluk 2.

Gilas Pilipinas 49 - Ramos 9, Fajardo 8, Quiambao 8, Gomez de Liaño 7, Phillips 6, Edu 5, Rosario 4, Tamayo 2, Abarrientos 0, Baltazar 0, Newsome 0.

Quarters: 33-14, 41-27, 63-37, 92-49

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News