MANILA – Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone has affirmed that the national team’s current player pool will remain intact for the upcoming windows of the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, resisting calls to expand despite the recent SEA Games success of a makeshift “C-team” squad. In comments following the Philippines’ basketball double-gold sweep in Bangkok, Cone emphasized continuity and preparation efficiency over adding new faces.
“We don’t want to increase it to a huge pool because that’s too unwieldy for the time of preparation that we have,” Cone said, noting the window-based format of the qualifiers limits practice opportunities compared to full tournaments like the SEA Games or Asia Cup.
The decision prioritizes chemistry among the core group—built around veterans like June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Scottie Thompson, and naturalized players Justin Brownlee and Ange Kouame—plus young standouts such as Dwight Ramos, Kevin Quiambao, and AJ Edu. The pool, expanded slightly to 16-18 earlier in 2025, includes recent additions like Quentin Millora-Brown and RJ Abarrientos, but Cone sees no need for further changes heading into tougher matchups against Australia and New Zealand.
Cone acknowledged the SEA Games performers’ talent but reiterated the program’s long-term focus: “We put this team together to grow together… changing personnel resets us to zero.” The qualifiers resume in February-March 2026, with Gilas aiming for a top-three finish in Group A to advance.
Fans clamoring for inclusions from the SEA Games gold medalists will have to wait—Cone’s strategy bets on familiarity for FIBA success.
Gilas Core Pool Snapshot (As of Late 2025):
| Key Players | Role/Notes |
|---|---|
| Justin Brownlee | Naturalized leader |
| June Mar Fajardo | Dominant big man |
| Dwight Ramos | Versatile guard |
| Kevin Quiambao | Rising star forward |
| AJ Edu | Athletic center |
| Others | Perez, Thompson, Oftana, Malonzo, etc. |