(PBA image)
Gilas Pilipinas walked into the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday night with more than just pride at stake. But even before the opening tip against Australia, the Nationals had already secured what they came for — a ticket to the second round of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
The assist came courtesy of the New Zealand Tall Blacks.
Hours before Gilas faced the Australia Boomers, New Zealand dismantled Guam, 99-67, at the Calvo Field House. That emphatic victory locked in the three advancing teams from Group A and mathematically assured the Philippines of progression regardless of its result against the Boomers.
Australia went on to hand Gilas a 93-66 defeat, but the outcome had no bearing on the bigger picture. The Philippines is headed to Round 2.
“Yes, we have,” said Gilas coach Tim Cone when asked if advancement was secured.
Still, Cone was quick to temper any sense of relief. The qualification format carries over results from the first round, meaning every win — and every loss — will matter in the next phase.
“That doesn’t mean that we’re just going to give these games up against New Zealand and Australia,” Cone stressed, referring to Gilas’ remaining road assignments against both squads in July during the third and final window of the opening round.
Australia remains unbeaten at 4-0 atop Group A, while the Philippines and New Zealand sit tied at 2-2. Guam, at 0-4, is out of contention. Even in a scenario where Guam matches Gilas’ record by the end of the window, the Philippines holds the edge via a two-game sweep earlier in the qualifiers.
Only the top three teams from each of the four groups move forward.
In Round 2, Gilas will be slotted into Group E alongside Group C heavyweights Jordan, Iran, and Syria — a new gauntlet that raises the stakes and intensity.
The next phase begins in August, and for Gilas, qualification is only the first step. With carry-over records in play, the mission now shifts from merely advancing to positioning — because in the long road to the World Cup, every possession counts.