(UPDATE) GILAS Pilipinas coach Tim Cone is glad the Philippines scored a two-game sweep of Guam in the first round of the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
The two victories pushed the Philippines to a share of the early lead at Group A with world power Australia, which also scored its own two-game sweep in the first round against New Zealand.
The Philippines scored two lopsided wins against Guam — an 87-46 rout in an away game last Friday, followed by a 95-72 triumph on Monday.
The Tall Blacks weren’t too fortunate in their first-round match up with the Boomers, dropping an 84-79 decision in Australia last weekend, followed by a heartbreaking 79-77 loss in Wellington.
Australian guard Davo Hickey buried the game-winning triple at the buzzer, sinking New Zealand to a 0-2 hole.
The 2-0 start in the group stage, sure is a confidence booster for Gilas.
But by February, there comes the challenging part, one that will push the Filipinos real hard.
The Philippines will be regrouping by the midpoint of February, and will have to prepare for two important home games — one against familiar foe New Zealand on Feb. 26, followed by Australia on March 1.
“We have long ways still, [but] we have our eyes on it,” Cone said, referring to Gilas’ two homes games.
“We know New Zealand pretty well while we played Australia in the [FIBA] Asia Cup, so we know what’s ahead of us,” he explained.”
Cone, by his admission, said playing the Tall Blacks and Boomers in a matter of days early next week, won’t be easy.
New Zealand, given its winless start in the Asian Qualifiers, will be eager to get back its bearing and go all out for a win against the Philippines right at Gilas’ home floor.
But the Gilas coach is hopeful that playing at its home floor can do its own wonder, given the energy players can draw from a fullhouse of Filipino fans.
“We hope playing at home, that will make a difference for us,” he said.
Gilas, then reinforced by a healthy Kai Sotto, scored a breakthrough 93-89 triumph against New Zealand at the Mall of Asia Arena in November 2024 during the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers, marking its first victory against the Tall Blacks in a FIBA tournament.