All news tagged Gilas Pilipinas

CTBA admits Strong Group Athletics was the “biggest victim” of the controversial format change—but for the two-time champions, an apology may not be enough.

The apology has been made.

But for Strong Group Athletics, the damage already been done.

The Chinese Taipei Basketball Association (CTBA), organizer of the 2026 William Jones Cup, has publicly apologized over a sudden change to the tournament format that put SGA's bid for a historic three-peat in jeopardy.

And in a striking admission, the organizers themselves acknowledged that the Philippine-based squad may have been the “biggest victim” of the new format.

That acknowledgment, however, does little to erase what happened on the court.

SGA entered the final stretch of group play with a 4-1 record, seemingly putting Charles Tiu's squad in prime position for another deep run.

But the new format changed the equation.

CTBA decided to guarantee a semifinal berth for Chinese Taipei Blue, despite the host team sitting at the bottom of Group A with a 1-4 record.

For SGA, it created a problem. A team with four wins could now be watching the semifinals from the sidelines.

The complicated situation became even more difficult because of the tournament's margin-of-victory tiebreaker.

SGA needed to beat South Korea's Wonju DB Promy by at least 32 points to strengthen its chances of advancing.

Instead, the Korean side—powered by Ethan Alvano—handed SGA a 110-79 defeat in their opening meeting.

South Korea's position at the top of Group A secured the other semifinal spot, leaving SGA dependent on the results of other games.

Suddenly, the defending two-time champion was no longer in control of its own destiny.

The rationale?

Chinese Taipei Blue had been hit by injuries, leaving the team depleted and forcing younger, less experienced players into the lineup.

For the host, the change offered another chance.

Although, CTBA explained that the format adjustment was made partly to allow Chinese Taipei Blue to remain competitive and give local fans an opportunity to see their hometown team reach the semifinals.

The organizers also said scheduling adjustments were made to provide teams with more adequate rest.

But CTBA recognized the obvious consequence. SGA already paid the price.

“The two-time champion Philippine SGA team… may be the biggest victim of the new competition format this year.”

That is quite an admission.

The organizers also praised SGA for its performance throughout the tournament and thanked the team for contributing to the competition.

But here's the uncomfortable question:

Should a team with a 4-1 record have to depend on other results simply because the rules changed during the tournament?

There is nothing wrong with acknowledging a mistake. In fact, CTBA's public apology is important.

But an apology does not add another win to SGA's record. It does not erase the 32-point requirement.

It does not restore the team's control over its semifinal destiny. And it certainly does not guarantee another Jones Cup championship.

For a team chasing a historic three-peat, those details matter.

Despite the controversy, SGA don't quit.

The Philippine-based squad still faced Chinese Taipei Blue in its final group assignment, knowing that even a victory may not guarantee a Final Four berth.

Japan's result against South Korea also factors into the equation.

That is the frustrating part. SGA did the work on the court.

The Jones Cup has apologized. But for SGA, the message is simple: Again, an apology can acknowledge the damage. It cannot undo it.

And if SGA somehow survives this mess and reaches the semifinals, it won't just be playing for another Jones Cup title.

It will be playing with something to prove. Let's find out what's next for them. 

Gilas Pilipinas is proving that this team is not one that folds when the pressure rises.

The Nationals overcame another double-digit deficit and stormed back to beat Iran, 68-56, on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena, securing their second straight victory in the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

It was far from a perfect performance, but that may be exactly what makes the win more impressive.

After escaping Jordan in an overtime thriller, 82-81, last Friday, Gilas once again found itself in trouble early. Instead of panicking, however, the Filipinos responded with the kind of defensive intensity and composure that ultimately turned the game around.

The victory gives Gilas its fourth win in eight games in Group E and, more importantly, another confidence boost heading deeper into the qualifying campaign.

Two games, two comebacks, two statement wins.

Gilas may still have plenty to fix, but one thing is becoming increasingly clear: this team has learned how to fight back.

And when the Philippines plays with that kind of heart and hustle, no lead feels completely safe against Gilas.

The comeback kings are making noise again. 🇵🇭🏀🔥

After a rollercoaster ride through the group stage, Gilas Pilipinas finds itself facing one of the biggest challenges of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup: a quarterfinal clash with powerhouse Australia.

Gilas' path to this do-or-die matchup was anything but smooth. Early losses to Chinese-Taipei and New Zealand pushed the team into a tough bracket. That left them with no choice but to face the tournament’s top seed far earlier than hoped.

But if there’s one thing head coach Tim Cone has learned, it’s that this team knows how to rise when it matters most.

“Australia is pretty much the No. 1 seed in the tournament, and for us to beat them it would be an upset,”  Cone admitted.

“But beating Iraq, and the way we won over Saudi Arabia, has given us some momentum. Hopefully, we can carry that into the Australia game.” he added.

That thrilling 95–88 overtime victory against Saudi Arabia — punctuated by a clutch game-tying three from Justin Brownlee with 3.7 seconds left — kept Gilas' hopes alive. Kevin Quiambao also made a strong case for a permanent spot in the rotation. He scored 17 points and hit two big threes in extra time.

Australia, winners of the last two Asia Cup tournaments (2017, 2022), have yet to drop a game in the continental competition. They swept Group A with dominant wins over South Korea, Lebanon, and Qatar. The team was powered by the stellar play of Jaylin Galloway (18 PPG, 3 RPG, 2.3 SPG).

Gilas knows what’s at stake — and who stands in their way.

“Losing the first two games of the tournament got us here. But we figured that if we’re going to do something special, we have to go through Australia at some point. And now that it’s here in front of us, we’re gonna do our best to get at them. We didn’t expect to play them this early,” Cone stated.

This quarterfinal isn’t just a battle for a semifinal berth — it’s also the first meeting between Gilas and Australia since the infamous bench-clearing brawl in 2018 at the Philippine Arena during the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

That incident drew global attention and led to heavy sanctions for both teams, leaving a dark mark on their history. But both federations have since moved forward.

“That was in the past. We understand that and we have learned from that. We just play basketball and that’s what we have to focus on.” said SBP President Al Panlilio.

Panlilio also noted that relations between the SBP and Basketball Australia have since improved, with the Aussies even expressing excitement over hosting Gilas later this year in the World Cup Qualifiers.

Gilas enters Wednesday’s 7 PM (Philippine time) showdown as heavy underdogs, but if there’s one thing this team has shown, it’s their ability to thrive under pressure. With momentum on their side, Gilas is determined to shock the world.