As we bask in the triumph of a Gilas ‘Team C’ in the Southeast Asian Games to welcome a brand new year 2026, Gilas Pilipinas is already crafting plans to make the country’s 2027 FIBA World Cup campaign a big success. Coach Tim Cone has developed a program that emphasizes a growth and continuity culture, combining a strategic blend of fiery local pride and consummate international experience. The team’s recent twin successes against Guam, while putting on display a devastating offensive show, will be tested this Feb and March against the big, burly baddies of New Zealand and Australia. While we have chalked up a solitary win against the NZ Tall Blacks 94-86 last October, we have never tasted the sweetness of victory over the Aussie Boomers.
Coach Tim released a pool of players from where the final roster shall be picked from. This pool include bigs Kai Sotto, Ange Kouame, Jun Mar Fajardo, AJ Edu and Quentin Millora Brown; wingmen Justin Brownlee, Kevin Quiambao, Carl Tamayo, Calvin Oftana, Jamie Malonzo; and guards Scottie Thompson, Dwight Ramos, Chris Newsome, CJ Perez, Juan Gomez de LIano and RJ Abarrientos.
Overall, the team has become bigger and bulkier than its previous iterations. This augurs well for a team that has for the longest time been bullied no end by the wicked wizards of Oz. Last July 2018, an ugly brawl between Gilas Pilipinas and the Aussie Tall Blacks erupted, leading to the ejection and widespread suspension of players from both sides. Tension between the two sides have since simmered down, and with both teams practically ensured of breezing through the initial round, we do not expect their games this May to be hotly-contested.
Leading the charge for Coach Tim’s quintet will be Kai Sotto (7’3″), himself a veteran of numerous Aussie cage wars, having played in Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL). Kai’s rim protection, plus his ability to cover more floor space, will be a huge factor for the Gilas’ campaign. He will be the team’s leading defense enforcer, with fellow bigs – Jun Mar Fajardo, AJ Edu, Ange Kouame and Quentin (QMB) Millora-Brown – providing valuable support sock in the middle, while adding frontcourt length and versatility, as well as shot-blocking menace. With 4 players at 6’10 and up, this line-up can even offer a ‘triple tower threat’ inside that will have strong inside presence while not sacrificing any speed to the opponent.
Of course, Justin Brownlee remains the top option among our wingmen, but Kevin Quiambao, Carl Tamayo, Calvin Oftana and Jamie Malonzo are all capable young shot-artists who can create their own space while hustling to help on the defensive end. Their superior individual off-ball movement is something that Coach Tim loves, and their unpredictability in making baskets from inside or out makes them all offensive threats.
The guard roster will feature playmakers and slashers led by Dwight Ramos and Scottie Thompson. They will have more than able support from Chris Newsome, CJ Perez, Juan Gomez de LIano and RJ Abarrientos. Scottie and CJ bring in the strong transition game, while Dwight and RJ command respect with their playmaking in controlled pace scenarios. This team is loaded with weapons from in or out, using fast or slow pacing, and with big or small match-ups. That said, this looks like the strongest ever Gilas team formed. It looks like Coach Tim has all the bases covered.
Expect Coach Tim to experiment with multiple 5-man rotations – for fast transition or deliberate half-court sets. Expect the team to use ball-movement spacing, and to leverage on Kai’s roll-and-pop. With the team defense stretched further with the arrival of more quality bigs, the team can now compete better against the big, bad Boomers or the Tall Blacks.
In this campaign, Gilas Pilipinas carries not just a roster, but a renewed purpose: a blend of elite talent, with seasoned leadership, and a proud Philippine basketball tradition that is ready to compete on the world stage. The path will be demanding – against resource-rich programs, bigger and more physically-endowed talents and disciplined systems – but the triangle of depth, versatility, and unyielding national pride gives them a strong inspiration. If Tim Cone’s cohesive blueprint translates into consistent rotations, disciplined defense, and efficient, high-percentage offense, this group can frustrate favorites, unlock unexpected lineups, and push deep into the bracket. The world is watching, but more importantly, the roster is playing for a country’s belief that greatness can be built bite by bite, game by game. Laban, Pilipinas!!!
Cover pic courtesy of Tiebreaker Times. Other pics courtesy of the Inquirer Sports, GMA Network, Phil Star, Phil News Agency, OneSports.ph, Abante, Daily Guardian and Tiebreaker Times. For a closer look, just click on the pics.
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